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Maranan Verabonon Fortify Battle on Behalf of
Shmitta
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
Maranan, the gedolei HaTorah, HaRav Aharon Leib
Steinman, HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz and HaRav Chaim
Kanievsky have issued a call to strengthen shemiras shmitta
kehilchoso as well as those who are battling to prevent
the sale of sefichin. On Monday, Chief Rabbi Bakshi Doron
issued a statement supporting those who do not rely on the so-called
hetter mechira, apparently retracting the statements that he
had made in earlier media interviews.
A recent initiative by the Department for Land Related Laws
in the Jerusalem Rabbinate aims to prevent the sale of
sefichin in all markets under their kashrus
supervision. Some in the Chief Rabbinate are, however, trying
to thwart this blessed enterprise. Their incomprehensible
measures have aroused sharp criticism in all sectors of
chareidi Jewry.
In their letter, the gedolei HaTorah write that the
mitzvah of shmitta is one of the foundations of our
faith, and that in all periods we have been witness to the
fulfillment of the Torah's blessing for shmitta
observers. The letter says that those who in the past were
lenient regarding the heter mechirah were motivated by
the understanding that pikuach nefesh was involved. It
is clear to everyone, however, that this reasoning does not
apply today. "[By means of this letter] we have come to
strengthen the hands of shmitta observers and those who
help them, as well as those who are making efforts to prevent
others from violating the serious prohibition of eating
sefichin."
At the end of their letter, the gedolei Yisroel cite a
ma'amar Chazal which states that the lack of
shmitta observance was the reason for the exile of the
Jewish nation.
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