When was shimitah?

The most recent Shemitah (sabbatical year) was the Jewish year 5782, corresponding to 2021–2022. The next Shemitah year will be 5789 (2028–2029). Shemitah occurs every seventh year in a seven-year agricultural cycle commanded in the Torah, during which the Land of Israel must lie fallow and loans are released.

Key Takeaways

The last Shemitah year was 5782 (September 2021 – September 2022).
The next Shemitah year will be 5789 (2028–2029).
Shemitah involves both a land rest (agricultural) and a loan release (financial) dimension.
The laws apply biblically to the Land of Israel, though the loan release (shemitat kesafim) has broader application.
The Hakhel (assembly) ceremony takes place on Sukkot following the Shemitah year.

The Biblical Sources for Shemitah

Shemitah is commanded in multiple places in the Torah:

Agricultural Rest (Shevi'it)

[Leviticus 25:1–4] establishes the core law:

"וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בְּהַר סִינַי לֵאמֹר... וּבַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ שַׁבָּת לַיהֹוָה שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרָע וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תִזְמֹר" "God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai... In the seventh year, it shall be a complete Sabbath for the land, a Sabbath to God — you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard."

An earlier mention appears in [Exodus 23:11]:

"וְהַשְּׁבִיעִת תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ" "In the seventh year you shall release it and abandon it."

Loan Release (Shemitat Kesafim)

[Deuteronomy 15:1–2] commands the release of debts:

"מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע־שָׁנִים תַּעֲשֶׂה שְׁמִטָּה... שָׁמוֹט כׇּל־בַּעַל מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ" "At the end of seven years you shall enact a Shemitah... every creditor shall release what he has lent."

Why Is Shemitah Specifically Connected to Mount Sinai?

[Rashi on Leviticus 25:1] raises a famous question:

"מה ענין שמיטה אצל הר סיני, והלא כל המצות נאמרו מסיני" "What does Shemitah have to do with Mount Sinai? Were not all the commandments given from Sinai?"

Rashi answers that since Shemitah was not repeated in Mishneh Torah (Deuteronomy) the way other laws were, the Torah emphasizes it was given at Sinai — complete in all its details. This teaches a broader principle: all mitzvot were given with their full details at Sinai, even if not all were later restated.

The Shemitah Cycle and Hakhel

Following each Shemitah year, the Torah commands the Hakhel (assembly) ceremony. [Mishneh Torah, Festival Offering 3:1] (Rambam) codifies:

"מצות עשה להקהיל כל ישראל אנשים ונשים וטף בכל מוצאי שמיטה" "It is a positive commandment to assemble all of Israel — men, women, and children — at the end of every Shemitah year."

The Hakhel year (5783 / 2022–2023) immediately followed the last Shemitah.

Recent and Upcoming Shemitah Years

| Shemitah Year | Jewish Year | Gregorian Dates | |---|---|---| | Previous | 5775 | 2014–2015 | | Most Recent | 5782 | 2021–2022 | | Next | 5789 | 2028–2029 |

For practical questions about Shemitah observance today (e.g., produce from Israel, Otzar Beit Din, Pruzbul for loans), consult your local rabbi or posek.