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Kenneth Cohen

Cast Your Load Upon Hashem

When the Torah discusses the laws of Shmitta, the sabbatical year, there is an answer to the obvious question. If we are forbidden to work the land in the seventh year, what will we have to eat?

The Torah replies that Hashem will give His blessing to the land, and there will be so much abundance in the sixth year, that there will be enough food in the seventh year, that there will be no need to plant crops and work the land.

Many commentators see the question, “What will we eat,” as a lack of faith. For those who feel such a strong bond with G-d, where they live by the verse, השלך של ה׳ יהבך, “Cast your load upon G-d,” they would never ask such a question.

Nevertheless, the Torah understood the concerns of those hearing these laws for the first time. It promises that if these laws are observed, Hashem will command that His blessing be on the land for great abundance.

We are living in a time where we must elevate our level of trust in G-d. He is clearly running the show, and is with His people Israel. We must not take for granted the open miracles we are witnessing. The rocket barrage from Iran, that did not injure any Jews, and the helicopter crash of the “butcher of Baghdad,” are two of the recent incredible miracles.

If we come to the obvious conclusion that we have no one to rely on but G-d, we will have far greater peace of mind. He is watching over us and the enemy that gloats and forgets about the G-d of Israel, is learning fast, the mistake they are making.

Pharoah, Goliath,Nevuchadnezzar, Sancheiruv, Titus, Haman, and many others were taught that they could not defeat the Jewish people and their G-d. In our time, it is Hamas and its evil leaders that are about to fall. I believe that great victory and celebration is very near. It will come even faster if we only throw our “load” at G-d and put our trust in Him.

About the Author
Rabbi Cohen has been a Torah instructor at Machon Meir, Jerusalem, for over twenty years while also teaching a Talmud class in the Shtieblach of Old Katamon. Before coming to Israel, he was the founding rabbi of Young Israel of Century City, Los Angeles. He recently published a series of Hebrew language-learning apps, which are available at www.cafehebrew.com