The Hebrew word shemitah literally means “release.” In its biblical origin, Shemitah was a year of rest, in a seven-year cycle of Jewish life, that gave the land a rest from farming, forgave all debts, and instituted agricultural and economic adjustments. Now as then, Shemitah calls us to take steps to ensure the maintenance of an equitable, just, and healthy society. This Jewish year, 5782, is a Shemitah ‘Sabbatical Year.’

We invite you to join Cycles of Rest, Release, and Liberation: Antiracism and Shemitah as Spiritual Practice — a transformative, contemplative learning journey that will combine Jewish text, antiracism teaching, and opportunities to reflect. Over the course of six months, we developed a curriculum to help you connect your inner essence to the journey from Hefker to Hekdesh — the reassignment of human value from being rooted in commodities and ownership to the potential for individuals and communities to be rooted in shared power, shared resources, and deepened connectivity.
This series will offer you a chance to release the rhythms and behaviors of survival-mind, domination, and control. Through four sessions and cycles of contemplative reflection, each featuring a keynote webinar and optional caucus group meetings, participants will be welcomed to connect Jewish textual sources on Shemitah and antiracism resources and practices for: