S.A.L.T. - Friday

Parashat Behar presents the laws of the "yovel" (jubilee) year, including the return of all purchased real estate to its original owners. In this context, the Torah elaborates a bit about the issue of "ona'a," financial abuse. Since a real estate transaction is automatically revoked on the yovel year, the seller must calculate accordingly and charge the appropriate price proportional to the number of remaining years until the yovel. Accordingly, the Torah here (25:14) warns against overcharging a customer. Interestingly, just three verses later the Torah repeats the prohibition against "ona'a." Chazal interpret this second verse as referring to an entirely different matter: verbal abuse. One may not taunt or hurt the feelings of another, as doing so falls under the category of "ona'at devarim," verbal abuse.

The obvious question arises, why would the Torah introduce this second issue here, amidst its discussion of yovel? While we can easily understand the inclusion of financial abuse in this section, for, as we saw, it directly involves the halakhot of yovel, no connection seems to exist between yovel and the prohibition against verbal abuse.

One answer suggested closely examines a central theme of yovel as manifest most clearly in another of its laws: the freeing of servants. As we know from, among other sources, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, upon which is inscribed a verse from the Torah's discussion of yovel, the institution of yovel is very much about freedom and liberty. Granting one freedom means allowing him the opportunity to grow and develop according to his potential. Rather than exerting one's energies for the interests of another, the free man can work towards the fulfillment of his inner self.

This theme of yovel may very well relate to the "shemitta" prohibitions during this year. Like during the seventh, sabbatical year, throughout the fiftieth, yovel year one may not till the land. Rather than manipulating agriculture for his personal interests, the farmer leaves the land alone and allows to grow naturally. This perhaps symbolizes the concept of freedom as manifest through the institution of yovel.

This may also explain the Torah's sudden reference to the prohibition of "ona'at devarim." The Gemara mentions several examples of this violation, among them reminding one about his shameful past. Taunting another often involves imposing upon him a certain characteristic or tendency to which he is eternally bound. Slurs and name-calling effectively send the message that the subject cannot possibly change; his character is frozen forever. Thus, verbal abuse strips one of his liberty, preventing him from cultivating his potential and working towards the actualization of his inner self. The Torah therefore saw fit to include this prohibition among the laws of yovel, which is meant to afford everyone the freedom to develop their potential to its very fullest.

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