A delegation of Shmittah-observant farmers — giborei koach — visited the homes of gedolei Yisroel shlita to receive their blessings and hear divrei chizuk during the week leading up to Shabbos Parshas Behar, which includes the words, Then I will command My blessing upon you (Vayikra 25:21) in reference to Shmittah. This Shabbos has been designated as a special fundraising Shabbos for Keren Shevi'is which enjoys the support of all segments of the chareidi community.
The farmers made the round of visits accompanied by Keren Shevi'is Board Member Rav Avrohom Rubinstein and Rav Reuven Meir of the National Center for Shmittah-Observant Farmers at Kommemiyus. At each stop they were warmly received and showered with blessings and chizuk in light of the challenge the mitzvah presents to them.
"Nowhere in the Torah is it mentioned that if a certain prohibition is transgressed it will result in exile, except for the mitzvah of Shmittah where it says explicitly that due to the sin of [not keeping] Shmittah [Jews] are exiled," said the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman shlita, who regularly shows an interest in how shomrei Shmittah farmers are faring and notes the great importance of this mitzvah in Heaven. "This indicates the importance of the mitzvah and one must prepare so that one does not just have life here [in This World], but also there [in the World to Come], which is more important."
When asked to offer some words of chizuk to the farmers he said, "You have to give us strength. You are strengthened and standing firm. You're doing a very great thing by observing Shevi'is, and you are referred to as `giborei koach' [Tehillim 103:20]. And who is considered a `gibor?' He who overcomes his yetzer. That's what makes one a `gibor.' May HaKodosh Boruch Hu help you have the strength to stand firm in this and may you have goodness in This World, and even more so in the World to Come."
The farmers also visited HaRav Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, HaRav Nissim Karelitz and HaRav Chaim Kanievsky shlita.
