LEV939 See [[EXOD737]] Exodus 22:27 curse CHINUCH 45-6

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LEV955 Count seven cycles of seven years until the Yovel (jubilee) year. Hashem wants [it] to be known to His people that the entire world belongs to Him. In the end He will return it to those to whom He wanted to give it in the first place, for He is its Owner. This mitzvah deters people from stealing or coveting each other's land, for they know that with the arrival of the Yovel year, the land will return to the person to whom Hashem wants to give it. The matter of the Yovel year is similar to a practice of earthly kings who occasionally confiscate lands, just so that the owners will fear and respect the king's authority and majesty. Hashem takes back what is His and then gives it to those to whom He wanted it to belong in the first place. Similarly, slaves go free and again serve only their real Master, the Master of the universe. In addition, our Sages explained that the matter of the Yovel year contains a sublime secret that alludes to all of history, including its conclusion.

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LEV956 Below the shofar on Yom Kippur of the Yovel year. If a man has had a slave for many years, it is difficult for the master to free him. It is known, however, that the shofar awakens a person's heart. When the time arrives to emancipate such slaves, in order to help masters to fulfill their obligation, Hashem commands that the shofar be sounded throughout the land. Hearing it, each master knows that he is not the only one who must part with his trusted worker. Nothing gives more strength and comfort than the knowledge that other Jews are doing the same thing. Similarly, when the servant hears the shofar, he knows that his time has come to leave. Even if he has great affection for his master, he realizes that other slaves, despite having similar feelings, are leaving. In this way, the mitzvah is fulfilled. All property and all Jewish servants return to the True Master, the Master of all.

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LEV971 Do not wrong one another in buying and selling. It is common sense that deceit in business cannot be tolerated. One cannot take advantage of other people and extract from them what one does not deserve. Rather, each person profits according to his efforts, according to what Hashem grants him through justice and fairness. The benefit is universal. Just as one will not cheat others, so, too, they will not cheat him. Thereby, a great positive purpose is served that helps society to function smoothly.

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LEV976 See [[LEV819]] Leviticus 19:36 weights CHINUCH 164-5

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LEV1006 Do not wrong one another with words. Our Sages give us many warnings about this matter, for we must be very careful never to cause people pain or embarrassment. The Midrashim are replete with stories to drive home this important point of ethics. One should always be sensitive to others’ feelings and guard one’s tongue so that nothing one says might cause even a trace of embarrassment to anyone, for the Torah is very particular about this matter. People are offended and embarrassed very easily and care more about their honor than their money. It is impossible to enumerate all that can cause pain and embarrassment to people, but each of us must be careful about this matter, for even if someone harms his fellow through a subtle hint, Hashem is aware of it. Even regarding minors, we must be very careful not to scold them too harshly. Not verbal abuse but constructive criticism is required, so that they learn proper behavior. Even with respect to one's own children and the members of his household, one must exercise extreme caution. By avoiding causing undue pain with one's words, one attains life, blessing and honor. Key concepts: To promote peace and harmony. Great is peace, for through it great blessings come into the world. Strife causes only woe and numerous curses and stumbling blocks arise from it.

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LEV1028 Preserve the open land surrounding Levite cities. Key concepts: The tribe of Levi was set apart for a special type of service of Hashem. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites were not given land. Their sole occupation was wisdom, and about them we read, “They shall teach Your statutes to Ya’akov, and Your Torah to Yisrael.” Since the Levites possessed great wisdom, the rest of the nation always sought them out and interacted with them. In addition, the Levite cities were refuge cities where those guilty of unintentionally killing a fellow Jew would flee. For these reasons, the entire nation was keenly aware of the Levite cities, for who could know when he might need them? Since the Levite cities were designed for serving the needs of the entire nation, it was important to maintain them so they would be beautiful and pleasant places. Accordingly, the Torah commands that nothing about these cities be changed, for Hashem, Lord of Wisdom, designed these cities and set their parameters, so any deviation from His Word can only be harmful. The Rambam writes, “Why didn't the tribe of Levi receive a land inheritance in Eretz Yisrael and have a share with their brethren in the spoils of the Land after its conquest? Because this tribe was set aside to serve Hashem and teach His righteous ways. Therefore, the tribe was set apart from the ways of the world. Unlike the other tribes, the tribe of Levi did not engage in warfare and did not inherit a portion of the land. They did not gain for themselves by means of their own physical efforts, for they were soldiers in Hashem's army and He gave them to eat from His table. “This lot is not only for that of the tribe of Levi. Any Jew can promote himself and set himself aside to stand before Hashem and serve Him, to learn His straight and righteous ways and teach them to others. Any Jew can cast off from himself the yoke of the many calculations of ordinary men and sanctify himself to be of the holiness of the holy. Hashem shall be his portion for all time, in this world and in the next. Such a person will merit to have what he needs in this world, as was the case of the tribe of Levi.”

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LEV1076 Do not force a Jewish slave to do demeaning labor. Key concepts: A man must realize that our nation has a special, honored status that sets it apart from all other nations. Appreciating this point, one will feel love for our people and its Torah. Knowing that a Jew becomes a slave only after falling into dire financial straits, we should realize that the same thing might happen to us or one of our children. If we are not careful, a sin might cause our downfall and we, too, might be sold as a slave. If we treat our Jewish servants with proper respect, this thought will certainly cross our minds, which will serve to prevent us from sinning before Hashem. Another benefit is that the mitzvah teaches us to behave with mercy and compassion, and to distance ourselves from cruelty. Thereby, we cultivate and refine our souls, and make ourselves worthy of Hashem's blessings, which He always seeks to bestow upon us.

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LEV1086 Do not sell a Jewish slave in a slave market or at a public auction. … he must be sold privately, with dignity. One should not slight his fellow Jew’s honor, even if sins have brought the man to such a sorry state that he needs to be sold as a slave. After all, we can never know whether the same misfortune is awaiting us.

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LEV1089 Do not impose endless or unnecessary tasks on a Jewish slave. Although today, the laws of Jewish slaves are not applicable, one still must be aware of this mitzvah, and apply its principles to poor, unfortunate Jews who take shelter in one’s home. One should keep in mind that sometimes, the wealthy do not remain wealthy, and the poor do not remain poor. Wealth and poverty are like on a turning wheel, and just as the poor can become rich, the rich can become poor. Hashem can alleviate a person’s poverty at a moment’s notice, and He can take away a person's wealth and give it to whomever He wants just as quickly. A man might be so rich that counting his money is like counting the sand at the side of the sea. Perhaps he will bury his money in secure underground vaults, will buy and lease properties and will think that all is well, but with one sin against Hashem he can quickly lose all of it. If he has merits, Hashem will allow him to hold onto His blessings.

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