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NEWS
Rabbonim Launch Keren Shevi'is Fundraising Drive
By A. Cohen
Gedolei Torah and Chassidus have launched a fundraising drive for Keren Shevi'is in advance of Shabbos Parshas Ki Sovo, which the organization has declared its official fundraising Shabbos. A delegation of Keren Shevi'is heads made a round of visits to the homes of gedolei Yisroel, who showered them with encouragement for their efforts to stand by thousands of farmers who have gladly committed to keep Shmittah properly. They also made substantial contributions and called on the public to become partners in this great mitzvah by donating generously to the Keren Shevi'is.
The delegation, headed by Rav Avrohom Rubinstein, Rav Yehuda Gelber, Rav Yeshayohu Vin and Rav Boruch Halberstam, visited the homes of maranan verabonon to present to them an overview of activities carried out around the country in recent months and organized by the National Center for Shmittah-Observant Farmers, located at Moshav Kommemiyus.
The delegation also notified the rabbonim of a serious cause for concern: this year is the first time in a long time that representatives from various government institutions are working intensively to persuade farmers to rely on the heter mechirah, which has been rejected by gedolei Yisroel shlita, rather than keeping Shmittah in accordance with halochoh. A krias kodesh issued last week read, "He who lends a hand to [using] the heter mechirah lends a hand to uprooting the mitzvah, and our opinion, daas Torah, is that one may not rely on this `heter'."
Contributions can be made through over 1,500 rabbonim in 72 communities throughout Eretz Yisroel, at Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel branches and through the Tzivisi Es Birchosi hotline in Israel: 1-800-300-544.
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