Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 112/ספרי דברים קי״ב
א(דברים טו ב) וְזֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה, מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (שביעית פ״י מ״ח): הַמַּחֲזִיר חוֹב בַּשְּׁבִיעִית יֹאמַר לָהֶם ׳מְשַׁמֵּט אֲנִי׳, וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ ׳אַף עַל פִּי כֵן׳ – יְקַבֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְזֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה.
1Pisqa’ 1123071. “Now, this is the procedure for the release:every creditor shall release the debt owed him by his kinsman or brother” (Dt. 15:2).On this basis they taught:[A debtor] who returns a debt in the Seventh year—[the creditor] should reply to him:I release it!But if [the debtor] says:Nevertheless [I prefer to repay the debt]!—[the creditor] accepts it from him,for it is said:“This is the procedure (davar)308, for example, an oral declaration satisfies the creditor’s obligation to cancel the debt (see M. Shev.10:1-6 on prozbul). for the release” (Dt. 15:2)—[the creditor’s declaration of release is sufficient to meet his obligation]. 309
ב[וְזֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה], שְׁמִטָּה מְשַׁמֶּטֶת מִלְוָה וְאֵין יוֹבֵל מְשַׁמֵּט מִלְוָה.
22. The Release-year releases a loan,but the Jubilee-year does not release a loan.
גשֶׁהָיָה בַּדִּין: מָה שְׁמִטָּה, שֶׁאֵין מוֹצִיאָה עֲבָדִים, מְשַׁמֶּטֶת מִלְוָה, יוֹבֵל, שֶׁמּוֹצִיא עֲבָדִים, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּשַׁמֵּט מִלְוָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְזֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה – שְׁמִטָּה מְשַׁמֶּטֶת מִלְוָה וְאֵין יוֹבֵל מְשַׁמֵּט מִלְוָה.
3Now, one might have reasoned otherwise:Just as the Release-year,which does not liberate slaves[with fewer than seven years’ service], does release a loan,so, too, the Jubilee year,which does liberate slaves (Lv. 25:40)—isn’t it only logical thatit should release a loan?The Teaching states:“Now, this is the procedure for the release:every creditor shall release the debt” (Dt. 15:2)—[therefore,] the Release-year releases a loan,while the Jubilee year does not release a loan.
דקַל וָחוֹמֶר לַשְּׁמִטָּה שֶׁתּוֹצִיא עֲבָדִים: וּמַה יּוֹבֵל, שֶׁאֵין מְשַׁמֵּט מִלְוָה, מוֹצִיא עֲבָדִים שְׁבִיעִית, שֶׁמְּשַׁמֶּטֶת מִלְוָה, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁתּוֹצִיא עֲבָדִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא כה יג): ״בִּשְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל הַזֹּאת״ – שְׁבִיעִית מְשַׁמֶּטֶת מִלְוָה וְיוֹבֵל מוֹצִיא עֲבָדִים.
4Here is a logical argument proving thatthe Release-year should liberate slaves:Just as the Jubilee year,which does not release a loan,nevertheless liberates slaves (Lv. 25:40)—isn’t it only logical thatthe Seventh year,which does release a loan,should also liberate slaves?The Teaching states:“In this year of the Jubilee, shall a man return to his property” (Lv. 25:13)—[with no mention of the release of debts, therefore]:the Seventh year releases a loan,while the Jubilee year liberates slaves.310 per. 3:6.
השָׁמוֹט כָּל בַּעַל, יָכוֹל אַף בִּגְזֵלָה וּבְפִקָּדוֹן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ.
53. “Every creditor shall release the debt owed him by his kinsman (Dt. 15:2).Is it possible to say thateven stolen property or collateral [must be released]?The Teaching states:“the debt owed him” (Dt. 15:2)—[this excludes obligation to release stolen or pledged objects].
ואוֹ מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ, יָכוֹל שְׂכַר שָׂכִיר וְהַקָּפַת הַחֲנוּת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֲשֶׁר יַשֶּׁה בְּרֵעֵהוּ.
6Or [we might reason as follows]:“The debt owed him” (Dt. 15:2)—is it possible to say that[an employer must release] a worker’s back-payor a shop-keeper [must release] an extension of credit?The Teaching states:“Owed him by his kinsman” (Dt. 15:2).
זאִם סוֹפֵנוּ לְרַבּוֹת כֻּלָּם, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ? מַה מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ בְּזָקוּף, אַף כֻּלָּם זְקוּפִים.
7Now, if we are ultimately going to include all of these[under the rule of the Release-year],311what does the Teaching mean by:“Owed him” (Dt. 15:2)?Just as owed him [implies that the debtor has]a standing obligation [to pay the creditor],so, too, all of these are standing obligations [rather than loans].
חלֹא יִגֹּשׂ – לִתֵּן עָלָיו בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
8“He shall not dun” (Dt. 15:2)—this verse places [a dunning creditor] in violation of a proscription.
טאֶת רֵעֵהוּ – פְּרָט לַאֲחֵרִים.
9“His kinsman” (Dt. 15:2)—excluding outsiders [from protection from dunning].
יוְאֶת אָחִיו – פְּרָט לְגֵר תּוֹשָׁב.
10“Or his brother” (Dt. 15:2)—excluding the resident alien [from protection from dunning]
יאכִּי קָרָא שְׁמִטָּה לַה׳ – בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.
11“For you have declared a Release-year from HASHEM” (Dt. 15:2)—[the release of debts may be declared wherever you may be,] whether in the Land or beyond the Land.