One of the laws we learn in this week’s Parshah, is that of Hadash. This law states that it is forbidden to eat of the new crop (hence the name), before the offering of the Omer on the second day of Pesach. A corollary of this is the prohibition of bringing an offering to the Temple from the new crop until the offering of the ‘two loaves’ on Shavuot. Thus, this law spans the present period of counting the Omer. One would think that this prohibition would only apply in Israel, along with other laws pertaining to the land, like tithing and the sabbatical year. Yet according to the plain meaning of the Torah that states that this applies ‘in all your habitations’, this would apply also outside Israel. Indeed, while there is Rabbinical disagreement on the subject, the generally accepted Halakhah today is that this prohibition does in fact apply in the Diaspora. But we my ask why this should be? Something connected to both agriculture and the Temple service should surely be a ‘law of the Land’ par-excellence. Why in this case do Jews not living in Israel, also have to observe it? If we look at the basic theme of this law we may find an answer. The fundamental basis of this mitzvah waiting and expectation. The farmer that has his hard earned new crop ready to eat, must wait to both enjoy its fruits materially and wait even longer to benefit from its fruits spiritually, by offering it to G-d. He must learn to anticipate what he will enjoy, without immediately being able to bring his desire to fruition. He must learn both restraint and patience. He must learn, at least temporarily, to live with his gratification theoretically available but in fact just beyond reach. These lessons are basic components of Jewish religious life. As we celebrate our return to the Land of Israel, we know that most of the time our desire for the Land has not been able to be satisfied. For most of our history the Land of Israel has been theoretically ours, but practically beyond reach. We have had to be patient. We have had to wait, anticipate and hope. These, are precisely the lessons taught to us by the mitzvah of Hadash.. It is therefore understandable, while of the many laws connected to the land, it is this one that the Torah mandated should be kept in the Diaspora. It is davkah those living outside the Land, those who hope and wait for her redemption, that need the lesson in patience that this law teaches. We have merited to have our desire partially gratified; may we soon see its complete fulfilment.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

 

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Emor