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Life is about counting. The commandment to count the days of the omer was in last week’s Torah portion. This week’s parsha – Behar – lifts the counting to another level. Here, we count not days, but years. But once more, the basic unit of counting is seven – the seven years of shemita (Sabbatical year), counted seven times and followed in the fiftieth year by the “Yoval,” or Jubilee year. ‘Similar to the seven weeks of the omer, followed by Shavuot! We know, or can look up the various laws associated with these events: during the Sabbatical year we forgive loans and let the land lie fallow. During the Jubilee year, land is returned to its original owners. But, what is supposed to take place in our souls at this time? What is the lesson in “avoda,” or connection with G-d?
We have seven “midot,” or emotional attributes. They are our ability to love G-d (chesed), to fear Him (gevura), to praise Him (tiferet), to take positive action on His behalf (netzach), to deflect anything that detracts from serving Him (hod), to bond to Him (yesod), and to nullify ourselves to Him (malchut). Whether we count seven days, or seven years, the intention is that we use the corresponding time to work on, refine and elevate these seven attributes. The work is followed by a gift from Above; the festival of Shavuot (on which we received the Torah) in the case of the omer, and the gift of the land of Israel in the case of the Jubilee year (since it returns to its original owners, as divided among the tribes).
The Jubilee year, though, is no longer celebrated, or even counted. It was celebrated during the first Temple, when there was revealed G-dly light illuminating the creation. It ws no longer celebrated during the second Temple, when there was less G-dly light, but it was counted. That is, the Sabbatical cycle of seven years was renewed after counting the Jubilee in the fiftieth year, even though the Jubilee wasn’t celebrated. And after the destruction of the second temple, the Jubilee wasn’t even counted any more. Now, the Sabbatical cycle just renews itself every seven years, without any recognition whatsoever of the fiftieth Jubilee year in between.
The difference between the Sabbatical year (that we still count) and the Jubilee (that we no longer count) is the difference between the work that we do on ourselves, and the illumination that comes to us from Above (upon completing our work). Any time we approach something that is beyond us, whether a new study, a new profession, or a new spiritual level, we have to nullify ourselves and then work upon ourselves, before we are granted the new level. While working upon ourselves, trying to learn, trying to improve ourselves and grow, we don’t have full comprehension of the goal that we are trying to achieve. We just know that it is there. It is only upon completion of the work that the desired result falls into place. But, first there is a period of total self-nullification and refinement. No pain, no gain, and nowhere is that more true than in the spiritual realm. First there has to be acceptance of the “yoke of Heaven,” followed by fulfillment of mitzvoth including study, prayer and meditation, and then one can hope to receive a little higher level of understanding and revelation.
During the time of the first Temple, the revelation was authentic and automatic. If you just followed the rules, counted the omer, and came to the Temple, you were guaranteed to receive whatever spiritual revelation you needed. Therefore, you didn’t miss any opportunities. You couldn’t, because G-d put them there right in front of your eyes, in the Temple. You knew exactly what you were supposed to do in life. In the second Temple, though, it became less clear. Some of the G-dly revelation was missing, and although the Temple was standing, one had to do extra work, and even then the revelation was not so clear. Still, you could make a pretty good estimate of what path you were meant to take, because a shadow of the higher illumination of the first Temple was still in place. Somewhat like counting the Jubilee, even though you didn’t celebrate it. The opportunities that came your way weren’t automatically clear, but with work you could discern them.
All that disappeared with the destruction of the second Temple. Now, since the Jubilee is no longer even counted, all we have is the work that we do upon ourselves. There is no G-dly revelation from Above in the form of “seeing” the right path to take. There is only the ability to consult with others and discuss with friends, and thereby to “hear” the right path. Hearing is not the same thing as seeing – accurate “hearing” demands more attention and sensitivity than seeing, which is immediate and clear (relative to hearing). Therefore, it also demands much more purification and refinement. It’s easy enough to miss opportunities that we can’t see, because we don’t have the Temple. It’s almost impossible to “hear” (be sensitive and aware of) those opportunities when we haven’t refined and worked upon ourselves. But, if we at least do that, and also consult with friends and advisors who are objective, we have a chance.
The lesson from parshat Behar; if you don’t want to miss opportunities in life, work on refining and perfecting your attributes and awareness, and consult with others as well…you may not see the right path, but you’ll very likely come to “hear” and understand it.
Adopted from Likutei Sichot, vol. 7, page 170 Shabbat Shalom, Good Shabbos, Rabbi David Sterne