By Shira Klayman, Sophomore
This week?s parasha, Behar, deals with agricultural, land-related concepts such as the shmitah and yovel years. Although many of the rules regarding shmitah (the seventh year of the seven-year cycle) are concerned with leaving the land alone, we also learn that all personal debts are considered null and void. Similarly, verse 25:28 explains that with the onset of the yovel (jubilee) year, ?yatza bayovel v’shav la’achuzato,? meaning that all debts are forgiven. For example, a man who is forced to sell his land because he becomes too poor to keep it receives it back during shnat hayovel. All debts are removed, all complications magically erased. Although the parasha mainly refers to economically-based debts, we can think of these ?debts? in social terms as well.
Remember that friend who still owes you ten dollars? How about the girl who insulted your fashion style back in September or the classmate who copied your answers on the midterm and still secured a higher score? These types of debts expand to social relationships that result in feelings of anger and frustration. The tendency to hold grudges is a natural, common human inclination: if we feel wronged, we find it difficult to ?forgive and forget.? The shmitah and yovel years are supposed to restore everything to the way it was originally, which probably appeals to many individuals: who would not jump at the chance to be automatically forgiven?

Although this ?automatic forgiveness? may sound ideal, is it really preferable? The concept provides an easy, convenient excuse to restore things to the way they were before, but it also promotes passivity and discourages us to actively repay our ?debts,? whether they are financial or social. The problems are not truly solved and the underlying issues will still lurk. Additionally, it is healthier for those who are angry to confront their friends and critically examine problematic issues rather than ignoring them. Regardless of whether or not we have hurt others or feel hurt by others, it is important to actively repair our relationships.

As the school year comes to a close, it is important to realize that we do not have fifty years (or even seven) to wait for our debts to be restored. Many of us are graduating and most of us are dispersing for the summer. Before you walk out of your last final and leave College Park, pay your friend back the ten dollars you owe her; confront your roommate who borrows your clothes all of the time, and try to alleviate yourself of any grudges or resentment still lingering from this year. Economically, the shmitah and yovel are advantageous for poor people to benefit from and gives the land a rest, but let?s not wait to eliminate any grudges we still bear and repay the debts we are able to fix.