The shmittah year will soon be upon us. It is a very stringent mitzvah, as the Ramban commented (Vayikra 25:2): The Torah was very strict about this more than other prohibitions, since violations of shmittah are punishable by exile because this is a basic fundament of emunah. It is written further in Sanhedrin (39a): Sow for six years and lay fallow on the seventh so that you know that the land is Mine.
At this time, the hatred of the nations intensifies throughout the entire world and who knows what [evil] the morrow will bring Rachmono litzlan. Their hatred at this time stems from their questioning our right to inhabit the Holy Land. All this indicates that Heaven is arousing us to strengthen ourselves in observing shmittah, which is our justification for survival in this land.
Therefore, it is a manifold obligation upon every Jew to be very careful in keeping shmittah properly, with all of its stringencies and not to rely chv'sh on any fabricated leniencies. Whoever injects laxness and heteirim in this awesome mitzvah is risking his life and is endangering the entire population Rch'l.
Chaim Kanievsky
