"Disasters Occur at the End of Shemitah Years" - Is This True?

The Shemitah year 5775 is almost ending, and the Indians are worried. The Indian newspaper "Times of India" published this week that at the end of every Jewish Shemitah year a disaster occurs in the world, and that this greatly concerns international markets.

The newspaper detailed the essence of the Shemitah commandment: the sabbatical for land and debts, and explained that "it's the last year in a seven-year cycle in the Jewish calendar." The newspaper also stated that "at the end of previous Shemitah years, major economic crises occurred in the world."

Among the economic disasters that happened at the end of Shemitah years are the Wall Street stock market crash in 1987, the Twin Towers disaster in 2001, and the largest bankruptcy in history, of "Lehman Brothers," and the fall of the Dow Jones index in 2008.

'Causing business people around the world to worry'. (From 'Times of India')

Besides Indians, many people worldwide: in the US, Britain and Japan are occupied with this issue. According to 'Google Trends' measurements, in the US and Canada there is peak interest in searches for the word 'Shemitah' on the internet. The CEO of one of the largest real estate companies in India was interviewed anonymously in the newspaper, and explained the concern about the end of the approaching Jewish year: "Considering the current market situation, one simply cannot ignore the Shemitah and move on." As an example, he cited the economic crisis currently affecting China, which, according to him, "occurred a few days after the beginning of the last month of the Shemitah year." 

As Jews, we rely on the words of our Sages: "At the end of the seventh year, the son of David comes." (Sanhedrin 97). The end of the Shemitah year is an auspicious time for the coming of the Messiah. However, the Gemara notes the question of one of the Amoraim: "But many Shemitah years have passed, and the son of David has not come?" Rather, the end of a Shemitah year is an opportune time for redemption, if Israel merits it.

May we merit that at the end of the current Shemitah year, the son of David will come and redeem us.

Rabbi Eli Amar in a lecture on the Shemitah year: