The activities of the Shearis Yisroel kashrus network gained
considerable impetus toward the end of the past shmittah
year. The BaDaTz of Shearis Yisroel prepared up-to-date writs
of pruzbul in order to enable Jews to fulfill this
mitzvah in the best manner possible. Tens of thousands of
copies were distributed throughout the country, accompanied
by explanatory information. Special botei din were set
up for the pruzbolim.
Director of the Shearis kashrus system, Rabbi Y. Dershowitz,
related that throughout the country, the regular botei
horo'oh and the rabbonim who answer questions worked
overtime during Tishrei, their activities reaching their peak
right before Yom Kippur and Succos when questions regarding
the fast and the arba minim streamed in.
The kashrus system prepared coins of pruta chamura. The
coins were distributed and rapidly went out of circulation.
Shearis is planning to issue another series of coins, of
which there is a dire shortage, especially in shmittah
years. One of the causes of the shortage is the biyur
of the ma'aser sheini that took place this past erev
Pesach.
This year, following a request by residents of Bnei Brak,
stations for kaporos on chickens were set up. The
response to this project was greater than anticipated, and a
number of stations closed earlier than planned because their
supply of chickens had run out.
The chickens were taken from farms raising chickens for
shechita under the Shearis Yisroel hechsher.
However his year, following the kaporos ceremony, they
were sent to slaughterhouses under regular rabbinical
supervision.
This year saw particular difficulties in obtaining the
arba minim for Succos because of shmittah. There
were no esrogim under Shearis Yisroel supervision since
many farmers that had supplied esrogim in previous
years to Shearis chose to observe shmittah and
mafkir their orchards, instead of transferring them to
the Otzar Beis Din.
Otzar Beis Din hadassim were sold this year. However,
because of shmittah observance, the yield as well as
the usual quality were deficient. Hadassim that were
found kosher and worthy of brochos were distributed by
Degel HaTorah throughout the country.
This year, two sechach retailers received
hechsherim from Shearis Yisroel. The sechach was
from stalks that were attached to the fibers of the plants,
thus putting them into the category of kosher
lechatchilah.
Hundreds of tons of chickens with the Shearis hechsher
mehudar were slaughtered and sold in honor of this year's
holidays. Shearis also greatly expanded its certification of
other food products this year.
