By: Cindy Coons
Director of Jewish Explorers and Family Engagement

In the field of education, we have the hectic pace of the school year and then a few months to plan for the next year. It may seem like the time between the current and next school year is downtime, however, it’s just a different pace as we prepare for the new school year. This week’s parsha, Behar, which describes the laws of Shmita, the sabbatical year, comes at a perfect time when we are beginning to make this transition.

In Parshat Behar, God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that for six years you shall sow your field and prune your vineyard and gather in its produce. But in the seventh year, the land shall observe a Sabbath of complete rest; you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard for it shall be a year of rest for the land.

This idea of resting the land in the seventh year is a familiar concept to us on a weekly basis – God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, Shabbat. This weekly day of rest may be observed in very different ways by each of us. However, the idea of resting and creating space for complete rest is vitally important to us all. Daily life can seem hectic; balancing family and work commitments can be challenging, and the impact of the pandemic has created yet another level of challenge. Each of us deserves to have the time to disconnect and fully rest. As I begin my transition from the school year to my planning time, I am aware that I often jump right in without taking time to rest, excited to begin planning for the next year. This year, I will be honoring this idea of Shmita as I shift from the school year to my planning time. I invite you to join me on this journey of allowing the “field” of our efforts to rest, so that we can feel rejuvenated, and our new growth can begin with a strong and rested foundation. Wishing each of you a restful, peaceful, and meaningful Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom from all of us at JEWISHcolorado!

Please email Cindy Coons at CCoons@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.