To leave free all produce which grew in that year

Faith – אֱמוּנָה

• Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 84) explains that Shemitah produce left hefker builds trust in Hashem’s providence, reminding the farmer that sustenance depends not on ownership but on Divine blessing.

Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה

• Rambam (Hilchot Shemitah V’Yovel 4:24) teaches that Shemitah sanctifies produce by requiring it to remain free and unclaimed, elevating ordinary fruit into a vehicle of holiness.

Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת

• Talmud (Pesachim 52b) instructs that orchards and vineyards may not be locked or guarded, reframing agriculture into a system of shared access.

Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל

• This mitzvah is tied to the sanctity of the Land itself, applying only within Israel. It expresses that the produce of the land belongs to Hashem, not to private individuals. (Sifra Behar 1:9.)

Shemitah – שְׁמִטָּה

• Exodus 23:11 commands that the seventh year’s crops be released, forming a central pillar of Shemitah alongside prohibitions on labor and harvesting.

Charity – צְדָקָה

• Rashi (Exodus 23:11) highlights that Shemitah ensures the poor may eat freely from the fields. This mitzvah prevents inequality by redistributing food to those in need.

Compassion – רַחֲמִים

• Ramban (commentary to Vayikra 25:2) notes that Shemitah extends compassion even to animals, granting them equal access to food alongside humans.

Justice – צֶדֶק

• By removing private ownership of produce, Shemitah resets economic structures for a year. The mitzvah guarantees fairness by preventing exploitation or hoarding.

Community – קְהִלָּה

• Shemitah creates unity and equality, as all people—rich and poor alike—take from the same open fields. This transforms farming into a communal experience of sharing.

Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם

• By releasing their claim over produce, farmers demonstrate reverence for Hashem’s authority over the land and its yield. (Rambam, Shemitah V’Yovel 1:9.)

Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

• Shemitah is an act of submission to Hashem’s sovereignty, showing loyalty to His command even at economic cost. (Sefer HaChinuch 84.)

Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

• By opening fields to others, the mitzvah cultivates social equity and compassion, ensuring that wealthier landowners share equally with the poor. (Rambam, Hilchot Shemitah V’Yovel 4:25.)