The Shmita (sabbatical) year invites us to take a break and rethink the world we live in. To reconnect with nature and ourselves through an ancient Jewish tradition and embrace some of the customs and halachot, and to make a difference.

Shmita is the Sabbath year (Shmita; Hebrew: שמיטה‎, literally "release"), also called the sabbatical year or “shvi'it” in hebrew (שביעית‎, literally "seventh"), or "Sabbath of The Land". It is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah.

Masorti Olami, The World Council of Synagogues, Inc., builds, renews, and strengthens Jewish life throughout the world, with efforts that focus on existing and developing communities in Europe, Latin America, the Former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

The Masorti Olami Shmita Project is working to expand awareness of this incredible biblical Sabbatical tradition, and to bring the values of its practices to life today so we can support healthier and more sustainable Jewish communities. 

Through the Mitzvah of Shmita, we learn to reevaluate our relationship with ourselves, our community, and our world. 

We, at Masorti Olami, MERCAZ Olami, Marom and NOAM Olami, chose to focus on five main principles that represent the values of the Masorti/Conservative movement, and are also reflected in the tradition of Shmita: Tikkun Olam, Ahavat Ha’Aretz, Sustainability in Judaism, Personal Growth and Halacha.

We invite you to join on in this meaningful and fulfilling journey.