Inspirational Thoughts on the Parsha

Not every question comes from rebellion or doubt. Sometimes, a person asks because he genuinely wants to understand and connect. After the Torah discusses Shemitah, Yovel, honesty in business, and blessings of success and security, it then asks: “What will we eat in the seventh year?” This shows the question is not coming from someone lacking אמונה, because if it were, he would challenge the mitzvah immediately. Rather, it comes from someone who believes fully in Hashem’s promise, yet wants to understand how such a blessing could exist when, logically, the land should be at its weakest point after six years of work. The fact that the sixth year produces enough for three years is not just above nature — it completely reverses nature itself.On a deeper level, the six years represent the six thousand years of creation, while the seventh represents the era of גאולה. As the generations continue, the world appears darker and spiritually weaker, leading people to wonder how specifically our generation can bring Moshiach. Hashem’s answer is that this is exactly the greatness of our avodah. Even when godliness is hidden and connection is difficult, serving Hashem with mesiras nefesh and commitment draws down a blessing far beyond logic. The takeaway is that questions are not always signs of weakness; sometimes they reflect a sincere desire to connect more deeply. And specifically through remaining committed during the hardest times, we bring the גאולה.לקו״ש כז-ב

When discussing all the Yomim Tovim throughout the year, the Torah presents them according to their specific times, and the Mishnah and Gemara follow that structure. However, Maimonides arranges time-sensitive mitzvos not by calendar, but by their importance to the person—the most essential come first. He introduces them with the verse, “Your Mitzvos are my inheritance forever,” raising the question: how can mitzvos tied to specific times be called “forever”? The answer is that there are two ways to view them—either as limited to their moment, or as a constant responsibility that only finds expression at certain times of the year.Even though Shabbos and Yom Tov occur at set times, their preparation, anticipation, and mindset extend throughout the week, showing that their presence is constant. On a deeper level, the power of a mitzvah is that it transforms a moment into something eternal. Celebrating freedom on Pesach allows that sense of freedom to be felt all year, and receiving the Torah on Shavuos becomes a daily lived experience. A single mitzvah creates a lasting bond with Hashem—one that is not temporary, but remains with a person forever.לקו״ש לב-א