As Jews, we are instructed to give a portion of our resources to those in need every year. But every seventh year the Shmita year heralds a year of release for the land, along with the canceling of all debt. It also challenges and inspires us to approach how we share our financial resources in new ways. In this Shmita year of 2020–2021, let us lean into Jewish tradition’s powerful framework for thinking about wealth as abundant, inherently collective, and transformative.
Shmita in the News
As industrialized nations produce more and more food each year, the earth itself is in peril, for true abundance requires rest.
A reflection on shmita, work, and mental health that appeared in eJewishPhilanthropy
The practice of letting the land lie fallow after every six years of farming requires a complete reset in sustainable practices—and could gain traction as a way to combat climate change.
A reflection on shmita and COvid. Published on the eJewish Philanthropy Blog
Published by E-Jewish Philanthropy, this article offers seven points for funders to consider in creating philanthropic models inspired by Shmita values.