What is the Torah’s view of modern economic systems? Does the Torah support a socialist or capitalist world view; is it in favour of public ownership or private property? From this week’s Parshah we do not seem to get a clear answer. On the one hand our Parshah can be seen as very socialist. The Sabbatical year mandates that the lands and its crops belong to everyone, with equal access to rich and poor. All have rights to the produce, and no one can stop someone entering their land to take it. This legislation is concluded by the declaration that the Land is G-d’s and we are but tenants. All very old Labour. But when we examine the laws of redemption of property, a different picture emerges. Here the Torah places a great emphasis on the right of private property and especially the rights of inherited land. Rather than land being in common it is important that land remain in the family, and even a purchase of a plot can only be temporary. Here the Torah seems to restrict social mobility and take the side of what we would call the landed gentry. All very Tory. How are we then to understand this dichotomy at the heart of our Parshah? Can the two seemingly different world views be reconciled? A clue may lie in the fact that the above statement about the land belonging to G-d is actually said in conjunction not only with the Sabbatical year but with the selling of land. ‘The land should not be sold in perpetuity, because the land is mine’. In another words the source of the property rights of the landowner is the fact that in effect G-d owns all the land. It is He who has parcelled out the land to each family, and we are thus all tenants with Him. To let land fall forever into the hands of those that could buy it would be to upset the Divine order. G-d believes neither in socialism, nor capitalism but a property owning society, were it is ensured that all own property. At the same time property owners are to regard themselves as tenants of G-d, releasing the land to public ownership once every seven years. In this way, the Torah seeks to create a society that avoids the dependence culture of socialism while preventing the extremes of wealth of unfettered capitalism. This is the Divine system, and one worth contemplating today.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

Rishon	The institution of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years.
Sheni	Rules of purchase of land.
Shelishi	G-d will provide enough food for the Sabbatical year.
Revi’i	The duty to redeem land sold by a relative.
Chamishi	Laws of purchase for cities and the prohibition of interest.
Shishi	Laws concerning slavery.
Shevi’i	The duty to redeem Jews sold into slavery.
Haftorah	Jeremiah: 32;6-27:  Jeremiah redeems his uncle’s field.

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Fruit of the Sabbatical year can only be eaten until the time it would naturally be available in the field.