A Year to Restore

Shmita 5782 (2021-22)

Every seven days, we’re gifted the beautiful wellness ritual of Shabbat — a day to pause, relax, reflect, and rejuvenate. And, every seven years, we’re gifted Shmita — an entire “sabbatical” year where (biblically speaking) we are encouraged to let the agricultural land rest, free debts in society, and resolve any inequities that may have grown.

It is (or could be) a year to restore.

Starting on Rosh Hashanah this year (Sept. 6, 2021), think of it as Shabbat on the grandest scale and an opportunity for us to restore ourselves and the earth.

OneTable Conversation Cards

Use these conversation starters at your Shabbat table or with friends to reflect on how a year of radical rest might change you. Consider what is broken in our society and the earth, and what actions you might take to restore them.

Shmita Hives: Transform Rest, Embody Action

Shmita Hives is a network of local groups exploring how to connect rest, vision, and embodiment with activism. The curricula offers options to study with others, engage in conversation, create art, practice collective care, and more. Submit the interest form to receive a link to the curriculum.

Hands are holding lit sparklers

7 Ways to Make 2022 a Shmita Year

As we usher in 2022, one resolution to consider is recommitting to Shmita. In broad terms, it can be viewed as a period of collective renewal. Here are seven ways that you can make it a personal practice in 2022 from Rudy Malcom for The Forward.

5 Ideas for a More Sustainable Shabbat Dinner

Mindful eating is an invitation to think critically and carefully about your food and where it comes from. Plus, it’s an important step toward building more sustainable communities. Check out these five ideas to make your next Shabbat dinner a sustainable one.

Mindful Shmita Workbook

Download or print the Mindful Shmita Workbook from Hazon and the Tasman Center. This journal includes teachings, reflection prompts, and journaling pages to explore a mindful Shmita practice at your own pace.

Host Reflections

“Every Shabbat offers the opportunity to rest, one day out of the seven day weekly cycle. This Shabbat is the first Shabbat of 5782, a Shmita year, a year of rest in the 7-year cycle. Let’s slow down and appreciate on this first day of rest within a year of rest.” – Martha

“What the Sabbath does for human beings and animals, the sabbatical and jubilee years do for the land. The earth too is entitled to its periodic rest.” – Rebecca

“I shared reflections about this being a Shmita year and what that can mean in terms of rest, being open to newness and the unanticipated, collective care and redistribution of resources.” – Heather