Debt, poverty and the Bible: How Shemitah and Jubilee break the cycle (Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 15; Jeremiah 11)

How are the Bible's weekly Sabbath, sabbatical years and the 50-year Jubilee linked? What do they reveal about debt, poverty, land use and Israel’s modern history? In this deep-dive study of Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Jeremiah, we connect Torah cycles to Mark Twain’s haunting 1867 visit to Jerusalem, modern agriculture and God’s long memory. Discover why ignoring divine rest laws reshapes economies, communities and even empires — and why generous release of debts may change our future in ways we rarely expect. 7 takeaways from this study (https://hallel.info/torah-094-2026/) 1. Build a real rhythm of rest into your week. 2. Plan for seasons, not just days, of reduced striving. 3. Release others from small debts and emotional IOUs. 4. Practice generosity as a form of repentance and reset. 5. See your resources as stewardship, not ownership. 6. Stay alert to where you may be replacing God’s ways with your own. 7. Connect your personal story to God’s long-term patterns of restoration.