Joyous Justice

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Jews Talk Racial Justice - Ep 57: The Shmita Year, the Year of Release

Sarah Freyd

QUICK EPISODE OVERVIEW

In our current pandemic-, racism-, and climate-change-ravaged times, April and Tracie talk about the Shmita Year, or Sabbatical Year of “release”, which we just began at Rosh Hashanah. How does one live out the values of the Shmita year when most of us are no longer working as farmers in the fields? They discuss how we can use this particular moment to lean into its themes, reconnect with the Earth, and find greater balance in what we endeavor to control and what we allow to happen organically.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Are you familiar with the Shmita year? What are your thoughts on this Jewish idea of the sabbatical year? How do we make sense of the principles of Shmita since most of us are not farming the land? 

  2. As April points out, Jewish tradition has many laws, but Shmita is of particular importance especially in our current pandemic times. After learning more about Shmita, how are its themes resonating with you? What does Shmita mean in the time of climate change? 

  3. Tracie references the teachings of Hayim Bialik around Halachah and Aggadah, “Law and Story” and how law is a vessel for what you put into it, so if it doesn’t resonate, it’s because you’ve put no meaning in it to resonate. Tracie suggests that this Shmita year we have a lot to put into this “vessel.” What could that be for you, especially as it relates to racial justice movement building, the environment, the pandemic, etc.? 

  4. April points out that Shmita is not the same as rest but that it offers a number of sacred invitations.  What are the things you and we can do as a society that would help fulfill the promise of the Shmita year? 

  5. April and Tracie make the distinction between fallowness and rest. While humans were not working the Earth, the Earth was still growing and living, just not happening through our control. What does this bring up to you and help you clarify?

  6. April asks us to use this time to think about our relationship with the Earth. What has yours become? How could it change? 

  7. How does thinking of this as an extended Elul help as it does April? What would fallow look like for you as Tracie thinks of it? 

  8. April and Tracie discuss the tension that can exist between reacting from a heart or head centered space. How does this resonate with you in context of the Shmita year?  

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

Let us know in the comments below!