Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land

B'Har - Bechukotai

Leviticus 25:1 - 27:34

Précis: B’Har begins with a description of the Sabbatical Year and the Jubilee (Yovel) Year. In the 50th Year, we are to “proclaim liberty throughout the land” and property is restored to its original owners. The parasha continues with the prohibition against unlimited slavery, as well as the rules for the treatment of those who are slaves.

Bechukotai, the final parasha in Vayikra, begins with a statement promising blessings if the People follow Adonai’s ways. The blessings are discussed in detail. But, if the People disobey, terrible punishments will be visited upon them, and these, too, are listed in agonizing detail. The Book of Leviticus then concludes (as it opened) with regulations regarding the upkeep of the Sanctuary, from voluntary tithes, land gifts, firstborn redemption, and the tithes of flocks.

Leviticus 25:10 “And you will hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabitants thereof; it will be a jubilee to you, and you will return every man to his possession, and you will return every man to his family.”

As you may have noticed, 2012 is an election year. (If you haven’t been paying attention perhaps it’s time that you did). Many pundits have proclaimed that the United States is facing the most clear-cut choice of ideological positions in many years, perhaps as far back as Johnson/Goldwater. Other pundits argue that both parties will aim for the center, where the so-called “independents” are to be found. (We might pause and recall here that the word “pundit” comes from the Sanskrit word “pandit” meaning "learned" and usually described an advisor to a Hindu king. Their advice was about as good (and diverse) as that of modern pundits.)

Regardless of which pundit you might agree with, it’s clear that in the long run-up to this election, the concept of “liberty” has frequently been spoken about by people from all parts of the political spectrum. Even though the phrase is inscribed on the Liberty Bell (from where the hunk of Philadelphia metal gets its name), we have little consensus about what “liberty” really means.

 

According to American tradition, we are endowed by our Creator with the right to life and liberty, but for much of our history, interpretation has left the term “liberty” uneasily defined. These days, advocates of a particular “libertarian” outlook suggest that liberty means“freedom from” just about anything, but especially from government "intrusion" into their lives in any way, shape or form.

I look at this text of and find a different perspective. The verse links the proclamation of liberty to the establishment of a jubilee year, when possessions (land, especially) are returned to the original owners. There is thus a connection between liberty and the avoidance of creating what we today refer to as a “permanent underclass.”  

We should also learn from the concept of the jubilee year to temper our desires for “more” while so many have “less.” There are real slaves in parts of today’s world – and that is not a metaphor. There are sex slaves, child soldiers, prison laborers and those who work in prison-like sweatshops to make the fancy new electronics we all crave. We still have time (and the need) to “Proclaim liberty throughout the land.” That’s what liberty should really be about.