The MAHARAL on the connection between Shemittah and Eretz Israel

B"H

This Shabbat we are going to read the two Torah Parashot "Behar - Bechukotai" in the Synagogues. I find it always an amazing how especially chassidic Rabbis interpret the Parashot and how they get something spiritual out of almost each sentence.

The Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehudah Loew ben Betzalel, 1520 - 1609, was not a member of a chassidic group but somehow very chassidic in his commentaries. Parashat BEHAR, for instance, tells us about the Shmeittah year. Every seventh year, the land has to rest. 

The law, by the way, only applies to Israel !

The Marahal explains how Shemittah shows us the holiness (Kedusha) of Eretz Israel. No other country in the world has any similar law let alone a biblical commandment of doing so.