156 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Re'eh (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17), Source Book Keys, CHINUCH DEUTERONOMY | 15:3 Shemitah — DEUT709 At the end of the Shemitah Year release d... DEUT709 At the end of the Shemitah Year release debts owed to you. On the Shemitah Year, in the capital and of Israel, we do not plow, plant or do any other agricultural work (See [[EXOD882]] Exodus 23:11 rest CHINUCH 36). In effect we let go of our mastery over the land. For the same reason, at the close of the Shemitah Year, we relinquish our claim over outstanding debts of loaned money. The mitzvah instills in us the positive traits of graciousness and benevolence, and it teaches us to put all of our trust in Hashem. Having acquired such positive traits, we become worthy to receive His abundant blessings. In addition, the mitzvah helps us to build a strong, iron wall that will keep us away from stealing or coveting anything that belongs to a fellow Jew. We say, “If the Torah tells me that because of a Divine command, I cannot collect my own money that I loaned to a fellow Jew, then certainly I cannot steal or covet what is his, for there I have no legitimate claim whatever.” You will not even think of stealing or coveting. Share Print Source KeyCHINUCHVerse15:3Keyword(s)ShemitahSource Page(s)309-10 Switch article DEUTERONOMY | 15:3 repayment — DEUT708 Key concept is to teach us not to show th... Previous Article DEUTERONOMY | 15:4 cease — DEUT710 See [[DEUT812]] Deuteronomy 15:11 within ... Next Article