Oroh V'Simchoh

Perhaps another point can be added. On the sixth day we find the expression, "tov M'ODE," exceedingly good. This might be in place since giving a tenth of one's produce on the sixth year is an exceedingly great act of kindness. Since the donour will not plant on the seventh year, he has a greater inclination to save as much as possible from the sixth year to sustain himself later. Alternatively, since there is a blessing that the sixth year will give forth produce to sustain us for three years, the tithing of the produce of the sixth year is triple the normal yearly amount, hence "tov m'ode."

Ch. 25, v. 13: "Toshuvu ish el achuzoso" - The MESHECH CHOCHMOH asks why Hashem placed Yovel and Shmitoh back to back creating a two year continuum of prohibition of almost all agricultural activities. He answers that Hashem has commanded in this verse that all fields that were an inheritance handed down from generation to generation from the times of Yehoshua which were sold, should be returned to their original owners. After the purchaser has owned the field for possibly close to five decades, he has become emotionally attached to the field, truly feeling that it will always be his. To soften the blow of having to return it gratis, Hashem has given two consecutive years during which one may have no agricultural pursuits. Thus it is not as difficult to relinquish the property during the beginning of the second year of the agricultural moratorium.

I have seen written similar reasoning for the law (gemara R.H. 8b, Rambam hilchos Shmitoh v'Yovel 10:14) that when releasing slaves in the Yovel year, the slaves are freed from work on Rosh Hashonoh and only go free ten days later on Yom Kippur after the sounding of the shofar. In the interim the responsibility to feed and house them still rests upon the master although they do not work for him. This ruling similarly softens the hardship of relinquishing a slave.

Ch. 25, v. 35,36: "Geir v'soshov ......, al tikach mei'ito neshech" - The MESHECH CHOCHMOH says that the Torah mentions a Geir here to tell us that even if one gave an interest bearing loan to a non-Jew, if that non-Jew has converted to Judaism, "al tikach mei'ito neshech," it is still forbidden to ask for interest payments.

Ch. 25, v. 49: "O hisigoh yodo v'nigol" - If a relative may redeem him, isn't it obvious that he can redeem himself? The MESHECH CHOCHMOH amswers that it is necessary to mention his redeeming himself in relation to the ruling in the words immediately after "o hisigoh yodo v'nigol." The following verse states, "V'chishav im koneihu," that he should make an accurate calculation with his purchaser, so as to not underpay. Not only does this apply when a relative redeems him, but even when he redeems himself, and feels very hardpressed to extricate himself from being a slave, he should still not take advantage of his purchaser, and should make sure to pay his full redemption value.

B'CHUKOSAI

Ch. 26, v. 21: "V'im teilchu imi keri" - The gemara Shabbos 118b says that one who recites Hallel daily is considered a blasphemer. On the other hand, the gemara Brochos 4b one who recites the chapter of "T'hiloh l'Dovid" (T'hilim #145, commonly known as "Ashrei") thrice daily is assured that he has a place in the world-to-come. Is one not praiseworthy for saying Hallel daily, extolling the great open miracles that Hashem has wrought? The MESHECH CHOCHMOH explains that Hallel stresses the open miracles that Hashem wrought. We recite it only on the anniversary of special occasions. By reciting it daily we give credence to the concept that miracles are worthwhile praising daily, and that nature is relegated to a lower rung, to the level of "keri," happenstance. However, this is not so, as nature itself is also a miracle wrought by Hashem, just that our senses are dulled by its constant occurrence (See responsa Chacham Zvi #18 regarding the gematria taught by Rabbi Dovid Nieto that "Elokim = teva.") The praises in Ashrei are of Hashem acting within the rules of nature, sustaining all creatures, etc. For praising Hashem daily for His "miracles within nature" one is indeed assured that he has a place in the world-to-come.

Ch. 27, v. 4: "V'IM n'keivoh HEE v'hoyoh er'k'cho shloshim shekel" - Why does the Torah write HEE here and not HU by the male in the previous verse? This might teach us that if she is pregnant we only calculate her and not the fetus, hence HEE. Even if she later gives birth to a male, the evaluation is calculated at the time of the oath. The male she is carrying is under the age of a month, as he is not yet born. The Rabbis in the gemara Arochin 5a say that one who makes an oath to give the Mikdosh the value of a person who is under thirty days of age does not have to give anything. The word HEE is used by the woman who is between the ages of twenty and sixty years and not by any other ages, as those are the vast majority of the years in which a woman bears children. As well there could be another indication that these words teach us that a pregnant woman has the same evaluation as one who is not pregnant from the word V'IM. If we read this word vowelized with a "tzei'rei" it is read V'EIM, - and a mother. Since this is not relevant to a man the word HU is not used.

We find the word V'IM here by the woman who is between the ages of twenty and sixty years and not by the male of the same age. As well the word V'IM is used by the male over the age of sixty years and not by the female. This can be explained as follows: The gemara B.B. 119b says that a woman who marries under the age of twenty can bear children until the age of sixty. Tosfos on the gemara K'subos 23b d.h. "misoh sh'chichoh" writes that men live to an older age than woman on average because of the incidence of death during childbirth. However, women who live past their childbearing years outlive men. The word V'IM, - and if, indicates a situation that is not all that common. In relation to men between the ages of twenty and sixty years, women are less common, hence V'IM. Once above the age of sixty years, men are less common, hence "V'IM mi'ben shishim shonoh."

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