The Weekly Sabbath is the heart of Jewish religious practice producing, in Abraham Heschel’s memorable phrase, “a cathedral of time.” The book of Leviticus also calls for a Sabbath year — every seven years the land should lie fallow to be given a chance to rest — and for a Year of Jubilee. When seven cycles of seven years have been counted there should be Jubilee. This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming a jubilee for you. During Jubilee year prisoners and slaves were to be set free, debts were to be forgiven, and any land that was sold or exchanged should revert back to the original owners (at a fair price, of course.) Jubilee reminded Israel that everything was a gift from God.
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By Church Staff