Heads of the BaDaTz and the kashrus board of the Machzikei
Hadas (Belz) kashrus system met recently to complete its
preparations for the shmitta year 5761. On Elul 20,
rabbonim and mashgichim of the beis din toured
the large storage area shared by Tnuva, Co-op Supermarkets
and the Pe'er-Li companies which are coordinating the stock
of fruits and vegetables for the shmitta year. They
met with those responsible for supervision of procedures
through all stages: recording of the ownership of the land,
harvest and marketing of the produce in the stores where it
is purchased by shmitta observant consumers.
Members of the BaDaTz of Machzikei Hadas include: HaRav Yosef
Efrati, head of the Beis Hamidrash Lehalocho Bahisyashvus and
the Machon Lecheiker Hachakla'us Al Pi Hatorah; HaRav Chaim
Dovid Shuvacks, HaRav Shamai Gross, author of Shevet
Hakehati; HaRav Shmuel Troibe, the rav of Beis Medrash
Beis Pinchas and a member of the beis din of HaRav
Moshe Shaul Klein. These rabbonim inspected the arrangements
for on-site supervision in the fields, as well as the course
of the fruits and vegetables until they reach the
consumer.
At the meeting, they drew lessons from the previous
shmitta year, including the special stringency
regarding the borders of Eretz Yisroel in respect to
shmitta. It was affirmed that these borders would also
be used this year, and all halachic rulings of
poskei hador would be followed.
Director Rabbi Mordechai Brisk reported to the beis
din that all enterprises under the supervision of
Machzikei Hadas have already received written instructions
from HaRav Efrati's special beis din. Relevant
instructions have also been sent to stores, hotels, guest
homes, old age homes, yeshivos and institutions under
Machzikei Hadas supervision.
Alternatives for the supply of agricultural produce were also
presented at the meeting. In the beginning of the year,
storehouses containing produce prepared in the sixth year
will be available. When this produce is no longer available,
it will be possible to use non-Jewish produce. This produce
will be earmarked as such in order to enable its purchase by
those who uphold the laws of kedushas shevi'is for non-
Jewish produce. It will also be possible to import produce
from regions outside the border of Eretz Yisroel, such as the
southern Negev, Jordan, as well as more distant places.
The shmitta network of Machzikei Hadas has been
coordinating its activities for the shmitta year for
many months. A series of agreements with suppliers, farmers
and marketing networks were made during the past year, as
well as arrangements for the import of produce from areas
where the laws of shevi'is do not apply. In addition,
large quantities of vegetables for use in canned food for the
shmitta and the eighth year have been prepared.
A contract was signed with a security company to accompany
mashgichim to agricultural fields and to sensitive
areas, day and night.
Offices of the kashrus network have installed a computerized
program that will provide on-the-spot reports from the fields
and other pertinent information. The network will also
operate a service to prevent price gouging.
This year, an agreement was reached between Tnuva, Co-op
Supermarkets, and the Pe'er-Li company for marketing to all
food chains. The contract's terms enable supervision of
produce quality, as well as lowering of consumer costs. The
agreement will hopefully guarantee a steady supply of
sufficient quantities of produce at affordable costs
throughout the entire year.
The BaDaTz of Machzikei Hadas will also conduct a special
"hot line" for people to ask rabbonim and morei
horo'oh questions about shmitta in general and the
shmitta timetable for each particular agriculture
product.
