דברים, פרק ט״ו, פסוק א׳

Social and economic responsibility reaches its highest level when individuals are asked to make profound financial sacrifices. Following the Commandments regarding charity and tithes, a far more challenging demand is introduced: the total forgiveness of debts. Psychologically, this is much harder than giving standard charity. When a person lends money, they do so with the clear expectation of being repaid, and erasing that debt entirely requires a deep level of personal surrender [אברבנאל]. The purpose of this Commandment is to uproot the human illusion of absolute ownership over personal property. It instills the profound recognition that God is the true and ultimate owner of all land and wealth [רש״ר הירש, רלב״ג].

The requirement to forgive debts operates on a fixed, universal schedule rather than an individual timeline for each loan [רש״י]. While a minority perspective suggests this period begins at the start of the seventh year, arguing that any span of time has both a beginning and an ending point [אבן עזרא], the primary approach among commentators is that the release occurs at the very end of the seventh year. The terminology used indicates an absolute and final cut-off point [הכתב והקבלה]. Therefore, the actual cancellation of financial debts does not take place throughout the year, but goes into effect only at the absolute conclusion of the seventh year [רמב״ן, רבנו בחיי, תורה תמימה, בכור שור, חזקוני, ברכת אשר, ביאור יש״ר, מלבי״ם].

The concept of release fundamentally means letting go, abandoning, and removing one's hold over property or owed money [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג]. Two types of release are intertwined in this cycle: the agricultural release of the land and the financial release of debts. While the agricultural laws were detailed previously, the focus here is the new requirement of financial debt forgiveness, which is intrinsically tied to the same general cycle [רמב״ן, אברבנאל, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר].

Describing this release with an active verb raises a question, as letting go of a debt or refraining from farming appears to be a passive state. Some explain that this active phrasing intentionally compares the release year to the weekly Sabbath. Just as people are commanded to actively observe the Sabbath day by ceasing work, they must actively cease their labor to make the seventh year a Sabbath dedicated to God [רמב״ן, רבנו בחיי, הטור הארוך]. Other commentators emphasize a distinction between the two types of release. While leaving the land fallow is indeed a passive lack of action, the forgiveness of financial debts requires a difficult, active choice to surrender the money and pardon the borrower [העמק דבר, אלשיך].

Ultimately, fulfilling this Commandment serves as a profound test of faith. When a person forgives debts out of compassion, acting without the fear of financial loss, they open themselves to multiplied blessings from God. He watches over and grants abundant provision to those who observe His Commandments with sincere faith and a whole heart [שפתי כהן].