The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven years

This mitzvah requires the Sanhedrin to formally count each year of the Shemitah cycle, culminating after forty-nine years in the Jubilee (Yovel). Just as individuals are commanded to count days between Pesach and Shavuot (the Omer), the Sanhedrin counts years toward the Yovel.

The count emphasizes that time itself is sanctified by Torah. Shemitah years remind Israel of Divine ownership of the land, and the Jubilee adds a national reset of property, freedom, and economic structures. Rambam explains that this mitzvah is not merely symbolic—it establishes the legal foundation for sanctifying the Yovel year with shofar-blowing and proclamation of liberty.

This mitzvah also highlights Israel’s collective responsibility: it is not the farmer alone but the nation, through its highest court, that sanctifies cycles of time. Counting Shemitah and Yovel intertwines agricultural, social, and spiritual life into a covenantal rhythm.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

• Rambam (Hilchot Shemitah V’Yovel 10:1): Codifies that the counting of years toward Yovel is a mitzvah upon the Sanhedrin, paralleling the counting of the Omer.
• Sifra (Behar 2:2): Connects “וְסָפַרְתָּ לְךָ” to the obligation of the court to count years publicly, ensuring awareness of the cycle.
• Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 330): Teaches that the purpose is to elevate awareness of time’s sanctity, binding the nation to cycles of rest and renewal.
• Rashi (Leviticus 25:8): Notes the parallel between counting years for Yovel and counting days for Shavuot, showing how Torah sanctifies both micro- and macro-cycles.
• Talmud (Arachin 32b): Discusses how counting Shemitah years is integral to establishing the holiness of Yovel, even in exile as a remembrance.