In 2020 a cohort of young Jewish community members formed to study the principles of Shmita – a sabbath for the land. Our ancestors practiced Shmita every seventh year by allowing agricultural land to rest and by turning private land into commons for all to forage from. To prepare for a year without harvest, our people carefully preserved food, which was distributed freely to all. In addition to the commoning of the land, all debts were forgiven, creating an economic reset for the community. A key principle of Shmita is pe’ah, the commandment to leave the corners of fields unharvested – every year – so that the needy can gather food.
The principals of Shmita were influential in the founding of Denver Doikayt, many of which resemble the principals of the Land Back movement. Since 2020 we have grown into a community that is entrenched in Indigenous solidarity, earth based ritual, and radical rest.