Pisqa’ 1111
1
“At the end of seven years you shall declare a Release-year” (Dt.15:1).
Is it possible to say that
[Sabbatical year restrictions on field-work apply]
either from the beginning of the [seventh] year
or at the end of that year [and into the eighth]?
Look—you can reason as follows:
the term end is mentioned here (Dt.15:1),
and the term end is mentioned elsewhere (Dt.31:10).
Just as the end mentioned elsewhere
refers to the end of the [harvest] year
and not to the beginning,
so, too, the end mentioned here
refers to the end of the year
and not to the beginning.
2
“You shall declare a Release-year . . . Every creditor shall release the debt
owed him by his kinsman” (Dt.15:1-2)—
[therefore,] whenever you are obliged to release [your land],
you are obliged to release [monetary debts as well].
“Seven years” (Dt.15:1).
Is it possible to say that
the seven years [is calculated separately] for each individual debt
[from the time of the loan, inclusive of the Sabbatical year]?
Look—you can reason as follows:
[a land-owner is] obliged to release
[ownership of his field’s produce] every seven years;
and [a creditor] is obliged
[to release all his collectible] loans every seven years.
Now, just as the seven years mentioned
[in connection with the release] of produce
[are calculated] for the entire world
[on the same] seven-year schedule
[commencing with the first year of the cycle],
so, too, the seven years mentioned
[in connection with release] from debts
[are calculated] for the entire world
[on the same] seven-year schedule,
[commencing with the first year of the cycle].2
Perhaps, we might try this approach:
[A slave-owner] is obliged [to release his]
Hebrew slave after seven years of servitude,
and [a creditor] is obliged
[to release his] debts after seven years.
Now, just as the seven years mentioned
[in connection] with [the term of] the Hebrew slave
[are calculated separately] for each individual slave
as seven years [from the date of his indenture,
including an intervening Release-year],
so, too, the seven years mentioned
[in connection with release] from debts
[should be calculated] for each individual debtor
as seven years [from the date of his loan,
including an intervening Release-year]!3
3
Now, let’s find a closer analogy!
Compare a matter, [like the release of debts,]
unaffected by the Jubilee year,
to another matter
unaffected by the Jubilee year.
Clearly, [the release of] the Hebrew slave
is not a fruitful comparative example,
since [his release] is affected by the Jubilee year
[which requires his release from servitude
even if his seven-year term is incomplete (Lv.25:40)]!
Or, we might try this approach:
Compare a matter [like the release of debts],
practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land,
to another matter
practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land!
Clearly, the release of land
is not a fruitful comparative example,
since it is practiced only in the Land!4
The Teaching states:
“Seven years” (Dt.15:1) and “the Seventh year” (Dt.15:9)—
this [repetition] permits an analogical inference:
Just as the seven years
mentioned with regard to the release [of land]
[is calculated] for the entire world
[on the same] seven year schedule,
[commencing with the first year of the cycle],
so, too, the Seventh year mentioned with regard to debts,
[is calculated] for the entire world
[on the same] seven year schedule
[commencing with the first year of the cycle].
4
R. Yose the Galilean says:
Indeed, He says:
“Be careful lest you say: the Seventh year is drawing near—the Release-year!” (Dt.15:9)
If the Seventh year is calculated [separately] for each individual,
how can the Seventh year draw near [for everyone all at once]?
From this you may conclude that
[the Seventh year is calculated] for the entire worl
[on the same] seven year schedule
[commencing with the first year of the cycle]!5
Is it possible to say that
the release of debts was practiced
in the wasteland [before entering the Land]?
The Teaching states:
“You shall declare a Release-year . . . Every creditor shall release the debt
owed him by his kinsman” (Dt.15:1-2)—
[even before entering the Land].
Or [it might be argued]—
He says:
“You shall declare a Release-year . . . Every creditor shall release the debt
owed him by his kinsman” (Dt.15:1-2)—
[now this is] only in reference to the Land of Israel,
where you are able to declare a Release-year [for produce of the field].
[Therefore,] you may also declare a Release-year for debts.
[But] beyond the Land,
where you cannot declare a Release-year for the Land,
neither may you declare a Release-year for debts.
The Teaching states:
“For you have declared a Release-year of HASHEM” (Dt.15:2)—
[the Release-year may be declared] either
in the Land or beyond the Land! 6