The Shearis Yisroel kashrus network has moved into
high gear with its preparations for the coming
shemitta year. Its activities were spurred by last
week's meeting of the Shearis beis din, headed by the
gaavad, HaRav Shaul Chaim Karelitz.
The meeting was attended by the members of the Shearis
Badatz, HaRav Tzvi Weber, HaRav Tzvi Friedman, and
HaRav Eliezer Halevi Dunner, as well as by kashrus
inspectors and experts in other fields with experience in
this area.
During previous shemitta years, the Shearis
kashrus network gained much experience in the supply
of fruits and vegetables according to the high standards of
kashrus of the bnei Torah communities. Shearis
follows the strict directives of maranan verabonon the
gedolei haTorah vehaposkim in accordance with the
rulings of the Chazon Ish.
The laborious preparations were carried out with much
dedication, so that bnei Torah were able to enjoy
fruits and vegetables without any trace of shevi'is
prohibitions. The approach of the Chazon Ish was to consider
produce of non-Jews grown in Eretz Yisroel during
shemitta to also have kedushas shevi'is. As in
other shemitta years, members of the beis din
at this time have plunged into a very responsible as well as
intricate issue. In order to facilitate their efforts, they
have reviewed their activities during past shemitta
years and drawn the necessary conclusions.
The meeting of the beis din was opened by its
director, Rabbi Yekusiel Dershowitz, who reviewed the beis
din's extensive work during recent months as well as
agreements that have been made with various suppliers and
marketers.
He then detailed various aspects of the preparations being
made on all levels, such as in the agricultural, industrial,
commercial and administrative fields. He also noted that a
special clause has been inserted into agreements with
suppliers and wholesalers in which they are unequivocally
obligated to provide agricultural produce to every chareidi
community in the country requesting produce with the Shearis
hechsher. The reason for this stipulation is that more
and more bnei Torah are demanding shemitta
observance in line with the Chazon Ish's rulings, which is
strictly observed by Shearis.
Inspectors from all over the country presented various
organizational suggestions to the beis din. In the
coming days, the rabbonim will present all of their questions
to HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, shlita.
The meeting was also attended by Rabbi Yonoson Safra, who was
responsible for the previous shemitta campaign. He
presented his recommendations, which were discussed at great
length.
The meeting ended with the hope and the prayer that the
special blessing, "I have enjoined for you My blessing in the
seventh year," would be fulfilled. With hearts full of hope,
accompanied by the blessings and prayers of maranan
verabonon, the Shearis Yisroel shemitta year
preparations have moved into advanced stages.
