7 Squared
Shmuel Woznica, Joseph Diamond, Avi Baruch 

INTRODUCTION

 

In Parshat Emor, we are given the commandment to count the days of the Omer, and in Parshat Behar, we are instructed to count and observe the Shmita cycle. What is the correlation between the Shmita and Omer cycle? We are commanded to count the 49 days of the omer, which is 7x7. Similarly, within the Shmita cycle, there are seven 7 year cycles. Just as we are commanded to count the 49 days of the Omer, so too the Bet Din was commanded to count every day of the 49 year cycle of Shmita. By counting in such a fashion we come to appreciate the time that Hashem is gifted us on earth. In the same vein that we realize that as hard as we work, our success and achievements would not be possible without Hashem. That is why are commanded to let the land lie fallow in the seventh year, and we leave our farms open for anyone to come and take produce. “לכל־ישביה בארץ דרור וקראתם) “Vayikra 25:10). In essence, the land really belongs to Hashem, and through the observance of the Shmita cycle, we learned to care for our fellow brothers and sisters by sharing the gifts that Hashem has given us.

 

DESIGN PROCESS

 

We met with our mentor, Rabbanim and art teachers to discuss how we could portray different aspects of Shmita. After much sketching and prototyping, we came up with a beautifully designed mock-up of a farm in which all the farm elements represent different aspects of the Shmittah and Yovel years. We then used Fusion 360 to model the components we would print or otherwise fabricate. It was important to us that our design encompasses themes of kindness and gratitude. By creating a farm, we were able to portray different aspects of Shmita and the human experience of time. Every 7th year of the Shmitta cycle, farmers are commanded to make their fields Hefker (ownerless). To represent this idea, we built a fence around the farm, but we left the entrance open to show that anyone can enter the farms and take produce for themselves. Additionally, since farmers are prohibited from working the grain during the Shmita year, there are three grain silos which store grain during the Shmita year. That is why there is no wheat, but only wild grass growing around the farm. Lastly, there is a bonfire which is symbolic of the 49 days of the Omer. Just as there are 49 days in the omer, there are 49 years of the Shmita cycle. We are commanded to count every single day, and by counting so many days we learn to appreciate the human experience of time. Through Shmita we gain Hakarat Hatov, and we learn to share our blessing with others.