"It is a tremendous merit to bring people to Olam Haba, so that they know the purpose for which man was created. It is especially important to hail the Arachim organization which imbues in baalei teshuva the concept of "Emunas Chachomim" — to provide this sector with the requirement of consulting rabbonim and mentors regularly so as to be guided on how to conduct themselves in all of the changing challenges of life. Only thus will their path of avodas Hashem be established on firm foundations which will never weaken."

These were the words of HaRav Shraga Shteinman, Rosh Yeshivas Orchos Torah and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, during a preparatory assembly for rabbonim and directors of the Arachim organization which took place in their Bnei Brak headquarters.

Head of the Halachic Division of Institution for Agriculture According to Halocho, and formerly secretary of HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, zt"l.

Note that this article was originally published in 1994/5754, 4 shemittas ago.

It is reasonable to assume that many readers will be finished with this article after no more than glancing at its headline. The widespread feeling is that everything is already known about Shmittah in general and in particular about otzros beis din—everything is simple and obvious to all.

In fact, just the opposite is true. Just now, the shelichei beis din of HaRav Nissim Karelitz, av beis din of Bnei Brak and rosh kollel Chazon Ish, have begun the harvest in the vineyards in order to produce wine and grape juice that will have kedushas shevi'is. This development would prompt us to review what we know about otzar beis din even if all of its halachos were well-known; such study is still more imperative since several details have not been sufficiently clarified.

I do not intend to delve into the halachic aspect of how an otzar beis din functions in itself, but rather to outline our twofold obligation on the sidelines:

First of all our responsibility as consumers to strengthen the observance of Shmittah in Eretz Yisroel, and second our commitment towards the heroic farmers who observe Shmittah and distribute their agricultural produce through the otzros beis din strictly according to halocho.

The massive historic rally gathered together an assemblage of some one hundred thousand women and girls from the higher grades of seminaries throughout the country under the watchword of "Toras Imecha - the Teachings of the Mother" which took place this past Monday evening. It encompassed messages from our Torah leaders, headed by the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Gershon Edelstein, which were relayed live from a special gathering especially organized from his home.

It was headed as well by HaRav Dov Lando, HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, HaRav Dovid Cohen and the Admorim of Vishnitz and Modzitz. HaRav Masoud Ben Shimon related the blessings of HaRav Shimon Baadani. All of these gedolim delivered heartfelt addresses calling for fortification of the Jewish home and embracing paths of salvation and refuge from the ravages of modern technology coupled by a call to purify the camp and strengthen it with the advent of the upcoming Yomim Noraim.

Tens of thousands of women rallied to the call of gedolei Yisroel from all the communities and camps which urged Jewish women to consolidate at a historic rally which would be a turning point in strengthening all Jewish homes in vigil against all harmful influences. The Rosh Yeshiva's cry to Jewish women was "so that the more participants to this rally, the greater will be its impact on the public as a whole."

"To strengthen the Palestinian Authority." This is the message issuing from the top government officials beginning with Prime Minister Lapid, via Security Minister Gantz and on to additional present government members. To strengthen the [Palestinian] security staff and personnel including Abu Maazen and the entire body of those criminals, because the alternative of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad is apparently worse.

But just a reminder: this selfsame P.A. continues to pay monthly salaries to murderers of Jews. The Lavi organization which is involved in proper administration reveals data about the actual scope of this support of murderers.

A Palestinian who hurt a Jew and was sentenced to two years, will nonetheless receive 1,400 shekel a month. One who succeeded in killing and was sentenced to 30 years, will receive a monthly stipend of 12,000 shekel. There is an explicit price for Jewish blood. More blood is worth more money. And everything is anchored in the laws of the Palestinian Authority.

In preparing for the tenth yahrtzeit of HaRav Kamenetsky, zt'l, we came across this important essay on learning Nach. It seemed that the month of Elul is a very appropriate time to learn the lessons given here. This essay was first published by us in 1996/5756.

Part I

For Part II of this series click here.

From Sinai

There is a measure of difficulty involved in the teaching of Nach and consequently, a measure of inaccuracy. However, before addressing these issues, I would like to dwell on the essential character of Nevi'im and Kesuvim.

An astonishing piece of gemora at the beginning of Brochos (5) explains the posuk, (Shemos 24:) "And Hashem said to Moshe, `Ascend to Me, to the mountain and I will give you the tablets of stone and the Torah and the mitzva which I have written for teaching'."

The gemora explains, " `the tablets of stone' — these are the Ten Commandments, `and the Torah' — this is scripture, `and the mitzva' — this is mishna, `which I have written' — these are Nevi'im and Kesuvim, `for teaching' — this is Talmud. This teaches us that all of these were given to Moshe on Har Sinai."

One item on this list seems to be incomprehensible.