I believe that it is a mitzvah to publicize the current Shmittah miracles in order to fortify our emunah.
As may be known, wheat is also grown for animal fodder. Since the harvest comes in the spring and it is necessary to store the wheat for the coming year, it is treated in a process similar to pickling, that is, it is harvested as usual but left to dry in the fields for a day or two and then gathered by a special combine. It is then transferred to a special `pickling trough' where the air/oxygen is sealed off to preserve it for a length of time.
This process takes place at its milk-ripening stage where the wheat germ is still soft and when pressed, it exudes a thick white liquid. The crop is left until after the next stage known as the dough ripening, when the kernel hardens.
In the Shmittah year, one cannot wait for the dough stage, which is after the completion of a third of its total growth (havoas shlish), at which stage the developing wheat is considered fit for human consumption and is not permitted to be used for animal fodder. It is therefore necessary to accelerate the harvest of the early stage of the milk-ripening, at the end of the winter, which requires careful synchronizing to avoid rain or muddy fields which preclude sending heavy machinery into the fields. This year, winter set in early and the wheat, which was, of course, sown before Rosh Hashana by those observing shmittah, germinated early, enabling farmers to harvest earlier.
The public may have noticed that, from the 27th of Teves, no rains fell at all and the weather warmed up gradually to temperatures that were warmer than expected for this time of year, allowing the fields to dry up. The wheat grew quickly in the heat and reached the milk-ripening stage in time to allow for ealier-than-usual harvesting. All the wheat was transferred to the pickling troughs and sealed off — all before the 20th of Shevat. That very night, the weather changed drastically; strong winds began blowing and rains followed shortly after by the end of the week.
The phenomenon of summer weather during Teves-Shevat is very irregular and unusual, especially considering the overall high percent of rain which fell this year. Indeed, the unusual spacing of the rainfall has not occurred for many years, but in the merit of Shmittah observance, we were able to receive exactly what we needed and when.
"Acknowledge that You have beloved ones in Your world." Let us then strengthen ourselves in emunah and may we merit a Geula Sheleima, speedily in our days. Amen!
S. Pachter is a farmer on the Yesodot Agricultural Farm.
