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Behar-Bechukotai: What It Costs to Let Go

JL;DR SUMMARY Rivka Bennun Kay's article explores the deeply challenging themes within the Torah portions of Behar and Bechukotai, focusing on the concept of shemittah, or the sabbatical year, and its theological and practical implications. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish LawFaithAbarbanelDivine ProvidenceRav KookSocial ResponsibilityRambanShemittahBehar BechukotaiEconomic Legislation

Places mentioned

Israel
"Modern Israel has spent decades arguing about how to actually observe shemittah (the sabbatical year), from the fierce debates over heter mechira (a temporary land sale permitting farming) to how diaspora Jews might apply its logic to their own lives."
Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, France
"The Meiri, writing in 13th-century Provence, argues that any person who lives under the rule of law and ethical conduct holds the same moral standing regardless of religious identity."
New York, United States
"This project is made possible with support from the Simchat Torah Challenge and UJA-Federation of New York."

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Cairo Item ID 81690
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Retrieved 2026-05-07 05:30:53 UTC
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