|
|
Home
and Family
Thousand of Farmers Will Observe Shmitta Starting on
Shabbos Rosh Hashana
Keren Hashevi'is Budget: $13 Million
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
On erev Shabbos kodesh -- erev Rosh Hashonoh 5761 --
at the onset of the shmitta year, thousands of our
finest farmers will place their trust in the Creator of the
world, anticipating the blessing of Heaven. These brave
farmers will lay fallow their fields and crops because the
King -- the Master of the Universe -- has commanded them to
do so.
Joyously, they have agreed to observe the mitzvah of
shmitta, according to the halocho, without compromise,
as we have been commanded in our sacred Torah: "And on the
seventh year Shabbos Shabbason, the land will observe
Shabbos to Hashem"
Currently, we are witnessing an unprecedented upsurge in the
observance of the mitzvah of shmitta. "What in the
past was only a few agricultural settlements, has today
become a widespread trend," write maranan verabonon
the gedolei hador, in their heartfelt call to
"acheinu bnei Yisroel bechol asar ve'asar," a letter
in which they ask us all to be partners to this important
mitzvah with our contributions, and our generous support of
the Keren Hashevi'is which was founded for this sacred
purpose.
The amount of lands which lie fallow during shmitta,
has grown steadily from shmitta to shmitta, and
it has reached unprecedented proportions for the forthcoming
shmitta year. All this is the direct result of the
fact that the chareidi community has helped and supported
these farmers financially, in accordance with the appeals of
maranan verabonon the gedolei hador who have
determined that those who live in the cities should share
this mitzvah with the farmers.
In 5733 (1973), the Nationwide Center for Shmitta Observing
Farmers was founded by HaRav Binyomin Mendelsohn, the
gaavad of Kommemiyus who, in his ruach, his
rulings and efforts to inculcate the idea of shmitta,
succeeded in increasing the number of those who meticulously
observe shmitta without compromise. Now, after
intensive activity which continues until the very last
moments of the sixth year, the mitzvah of shemiras
shevi'is kehilchoso has gained widespread impetus. All
this blessed activity has been directed by HaRav Binyomin
Mendelsohn's son, HaRav Menachem Mendelsohn.
Keren Hashevi'is, which is directed by prominent figures from
all circles of chareidi Jewry, is the organization which has
taken upon itself to serve as the financial arm for
subsidizing all of the efforts to spread the idea of
shemiras shevi'is kehilchoso among the mitzvah
observant farmers. This activity includes supervision and
halachic guidance to the farmers, as well as financial
support and aid to them.
Keren Hashevi'is is the only fund which encompasses and
unites all of the agricultural settlements and all of the
farmers who observe shmitta throughout the country.
Keren Hashevi'is is also the body which conducts the fund
raising appeals on behalf of this mitzvah, and maintains
contact with the various institutions. In order to subsidize
its explanatory activities and extend financial aid to the
thousands of shmitta observing farmers, Keren
Hashevi'is requires 13 million dollars.
|
Gedolei Yisroel Personally Contribute to Keren
Hashevi'is
The Keren Hashevi'is received a tremendous boost when
maranan verabonon the gedolei hador transferred
their contributions to the Keren. The rabbonim who sent their
personal contributions -- the very same gedolei
Yisroel who signed the urgent appeal to acheinu bnei
Yisroel -- are: Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv; HaRav
Aharon Leib Steinman, rosh yeshiva of Ge'on Yaakov;
the Admor of Vishnitz; the Gerrer Rebbe; HaRav Shmuel Halevi
Wosner, the gaavad of Zichron Meir; the Admor of Belz;
HaRav Nissim Karelitz, rosh kollel Chazon Ish; HaRav
Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Ponovezh LeTze'irim; HaRav Yehuda Shapira, one of the
students of the Chazon Ish; HaRav Boruch Rosenberg, rosh
yeshiva of Slobodke.
Let us learn from their example.
The Keren has representative offices worldwide. The main
office is in Bnei Brak: POB 659, Bnei Brak, 51105 Israel.
Generally, the offices of Agudath Israel worldwide serve as
collection points for the Keren, and donations may be made
through them.
|
|
