Lead Tidbit
B'har's Promises and Challenges
Of course, we can look at Parshat B'har as a small 57-pasuk sedra with 24 mitzvot in it. But we can look at some of its mitzvot and their details as promises from G-d and challenges to us.

Sh'mita is a serious mitzva. (Yes, they all are, but...) And we observe it on some levels in our time. But goes into full force at some time in the future, when certain conditions exist. Let's leave it at that for the moment. Yovel does not exist in our time. Yet. Looking at its details, we can see not only requirements and prohibitions, but promises of a time more spiritual than we know now, freer, with a stronger sense of interpersonal relationships. And a deeper commitment to G-d, the Torah, the Land, and the People. part of the Sh'mita/Yovel life is the deal - Keep the mitzvot and we will dwell securely in our Land. When the Torah presents us with an if-then, we have a challenge and a promise rolled into one. We should be thrilled with the prospect of dwelling securely in the Land and of prosperity, AND we must take seriously the challenge of mitzva-observance and a Torah way of life, upon which our good fortune depends..

One of the details of Yovel that takes on a life of its own is the prohibition of selling land in Eretz Yisrael on a forever basis. Interestingly, this cannot be done, because land reverts to its original owners during Yovel, but the attempt to sell land forever is the violation. Rambam considers this prohibition to apply between Jew and Jew. Ramban says it forbids Jews from selling (or giving) part of Eretz Yisrael to non-Jews (even if they are not sworn enemies - how much more so...) Even if one believes that we will eventually get the land back, it is still forbidden to sell or give it "presumably" forever. This prohibition also presents us with a challenge, as well as promising great things for us as a People, if we remain true to G-d and Torah.