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NEWS
Aguda of America Representatives Tour Moshavim to Assess
Needs of Shevi'is Farmers
By A. Cohen
The heads of Agudas Yisroel of America, Executive Vice
President Rabbi Shmuel Bloom and Treasurer Rabbi Shlomo
Gertzulin, made an extensive round of visits to moshavim in
Eretz Yisroel to observe firsthand the preparations
being made for the coming shmittah year by Keren
Hasheviis, which is run by the National Center for Shomrei
Shevi'is Farmers. The tour was aimed to increase the number
of farmers keeping shmittah in Eretz Hakodesh
and to hear about the challenges faced by the Giborei
Koach farmers who decided not to work their land or use
their farming equipment during the shmittah year.
The tour was initiated by Keren Shevi'is Director Rabbi Ben-
Tzion Kugler, who wanted to inform Diaspora Jews about the
urgent need they become full partners together with those
dwelling in Eretz Hakodesh in fulfilling the mitzvas
related to shmittah. The tour was joined by Rabbi
Avrohom Rubinstein, secretary of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah,
Rabbi Reuven Meir, who serves as head coordinator at the
National Center for Shomrei Shevi'is Farmers, and activists
working hard to maximize the number of shomrei
Shevi'is farmers.
The tour began in the morning at Mevo Choron near Modi'in. R'
Nosson Feigin led the entourage through the enormous dairy,
providing detailed explanations in English about the complex
matters related to feeding the cows during the shmittah
year.
Afterwards R' Dovid Goldberger, field cultivation coordinator
at the moshav, described the enormous monetary investment the
moshav is undertaking in order to prepare kosher food for the
animals for the next year-and-a-half. "In order to feed the
550 head of cattle we have to prepare in advance silage
[fodder prepared by storing and fermenting green forage
plants in a silo] to last throughout this period, paying for
the food in advance and renting silage pits in other
locations in order to store the entire quantity. This
involves enormous monetary outlays," said Goldberger.
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