"In the year of Jubilee, you shall return each man to his ancestral heritage."
Leviticus 25:13
The Jubilee year (Yovel) came every 50 years on the Jewish calendar. Besides having the same status as the
Sabbatical year, (Shemittah) where no one may plant or plow, there was also an additional law that all lands, fields and houses
must return to their original owner. According to the Torah, when one sells
a field, it is like a long-term lease until the year of Jubilee. The Rabbis tell us that the Jubilee year must have been an
amazing sight, to see everyone moving from property to property.
This is done to teach us that we are strangers in the land; we are not here forever. Although this law is
not applicable today, the concept is just as relevant as before. We tend to think of ourselves as permanent inhabitants of
this world. We build and plan to live as if this is our final destination. Jubilee should teach us that we are only guests
here, but guests nonetheless. With this in mind, we can plan correctly for eternity by making our time count.
