THE MITZVAH HA'KHEL OF THE JEWISH CROWD IS PERFORMED AT THE END OF THE SHEMITAH YEAR
Ha'Khel is a Hebrew term that refers to a Biblical Mitzvah (commandment) to gather all Israelite men, women, and children, as well as "strangers living with them"; all must gather to hear the Torah reading by the king of Israel once every seven years. Ha'K'hel is usually pronounced Ha'Kel.
Originally, this ceremony was held at the site of the Temple in Jerusalem immediately on Sukkot in the year following the Shemitah (7th year cycle). According to the Mishnah, the Mitzvat Hak'hel (commandment to assemble) was performed throughout the years of the Second Temple era and, by inference, during the First Temple era as well. The Biblical Mitzvah of Ha'k'hel was most relevant when the entire Jewish people resided in Israel. However, more recently, as we await the final redemption of the Jewish people, we are also making sure to benefit from the spiritual blessing that comes from reliving the Mitzvah of Hak'hel at the end of each 7 year cycle or Shemitah.
What is the Shemitah? It is a sabbatical year decreed by the Eternal God of Israel. It is so to speak like a type of Shabbat that lasts a whole year of 12 months instead of a day of 24 hours.
As soon as the Jewish people settled in the Land of Israel, they received the Mitzvah to count and observe seven-year cycles. Each cycle would culminate in a sabbatical year, known as Shemitah, literally: "release."
The year following the destruction of the second Holy Temple was the first year of a seven-year sabbatical cycle. In the Jewish calendar, counting from Creation, this was the year 3829, 68–69 CE in the secular calendar. Counting sevens from then, we see that this final year is a Shemitah year (5782), which runs from September 7, 2021 to September 25, 2022.
AT THE END OF THE YEAR OF SHEMITAH ALL OUTSTANDING DEBTS ARE RESIGNED. THE OBSERVANCE OF SHEMITAH ITSELF HAS SEVERAL DIMENSIONS.
In the following paragraphs we will describe the basics of Shemitah observance. For more detailed information.
GIVE YOUR FRIEND A BREAK
At the end of the seven years you will make a release. And this is the way of liberation: free the hand of each creditor of what he lent to his friend; he will not demand from his friend or from his brother, because the time of liberation for the Eternal has arrived. (Deuteronomy 15:1–2)
In the Shemitah year he renounces all outstanding debts between Jewish debtors and creditors.
[Today, there is a halachic mechanism called Prozbúl in which this loan amnesty is circumvented. See Loan Amnesty for more information on Prozbul.]
This aspect of Shemitah observance is known as Shemitat Kesafim, "release of money [debts]."
TAKE A BREAK FROM FARMING
Here we are shown the Shabbat aspect of the Shemitah. For six years you will sow your field, and for six years you will prune your vineyard, and you will gather its produce. But in the seventh year, the land will have a complete rest, a day (a year) of Shabbat (rest) for the Eternal; you shall not sow your field, you shall not prune your vineyard, nor reap the fruit of your harvest. . . And [the produce of] the Shabbat (rest) day (year) of the land will be yours to eat, it is for everyone, for you, for your menservants and your maidservants, and it is for your hired man and the resident who lives with you. . . (Leviticus 25:3–6)
During the Shemitah year, the residents of the Land of Israel must completely desist from cultivating their fields. Also give up personal ownership of your fields; any produce that grows on its own is considered communal property, free for anyone to take.
This aspect of the Shemitah year is known as shemitat karka, "liberation of the land."
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