In parshas Behar Bechukosai, which will be read this
forthcoming Shabbos, the mitzvah of shmittah and the
warnings about its nonobservance are explained. For a number
of shmittah years, this Shabbos had been dedicated to
fundraising on behalf of our brethren the gibborei
hakoach who, with love and joy, have taken upon
themselves to observe the mitzvah of shmittah
according to the halocho and without compromise. The
fact that shmittah constitutes the main key to our
right to reside in the Land securely, as is mentioned in the
parsha and explained by the commentaries, will be
stressed.
From the time of the Destruction of the Beis Hamikdash there
have never been as many shmittah observers as there
are today. Since 5733 (1973), the year in which the
Nationwide Center for Shmittah Observing Framers was founded
by HaRav Binyomin Mendelsohn zt"l the ga'avad
of Kommemiyus, a great change in the map of
shmittah observers has transpired. The aim of the
Center, which is guided by all of the gedolei
Yisroel, has been to increase the numbers of the
shmittah observers in Eretz Hakodesh, both
quantitatively and qualitatively.
Since that shmittah year the borders of
kedusha and the circle of am mekadshei
shevi'is have steadily and consistently increased.
Initially, that circle contained only about 200 farmers
located in 17 settlements. Today, it has expanded to contain
some 4000 farmers in more than two hundred farms in dozens
of settlements the length and the breadth of the entire
Land. The total amount of farming land lying fallow comes to
the astounding sum of 250,000 dunams (about 62,000
acres).
Those who visited the shmittah observing farmers this
year were deeply impressed by the spiritual powers of these
earnest Torah and mitzvah observant Jews who responded to
the great call to join the "legion of the King" with zeal
and the joy of doing a mitzvah. Much spiritual stamina is
required to fulfill this mitzvah, which involves such
difficulties as stopping all production and marketing and
severing all commercial and work contacts. Despite the
direct consequences all this has on their financial
situation and obligations, these farmers are not deterred
from keeping shmittah.
Even before the beginning of the shmittah year,
maranan verabonon the gedolei hador of all
circles and sects, without any exception, issued a call to
all of our brethren everywhere to "come to the aid of the
gibborim and to donate a generous amount to the
shomrei shevi'is." In that call, they appealed to us
to help bear the burden of the important and special mitzvah
which devolves on Klal Yisroel by contributing to the
special fund established by the gedolim for this
purpose -- Keren Hashevi'is -- to which the gedolei
Yisroel themselves personally donated significant
sums.
This year, the Keren has already transferred the support to
the thousands of farmers in hundreds of settlements all over
the country. The amount of support each farmer receives is
determined by clear criteria established by the Support
Committee of the board of directors of Keren Hashevi'is
which has consulted with experts in the agricultural field.
The factors taken into account when determining these
criteria are the types of crops each farmer normally grows
and the amount of land in his possession which he has lain
fallow and which he otherwise works during the six years of
the cycle.
The heads of Keren Hashevi'is hope that the great arousal
which will be generated this year will constitute a genuine
springboard for the donation of large contributions,
especially by those of means. All those who contribute to
this worthy endeavor will become loyal and genuine partners
with the "gibborei hakoach" in the mitzvah of
shmittah. As the gedolei hadoros have said,
those who donate to this fund will also merit the blessing
promised to those who observe shmittah.
The Keren Hashevi'is states that the community must make a
special effort to aid our emissaries, "the nation in the
fields" so that they will be able to consummate the mitzvah
of shmittah kehilchoso and to continue observing it,
despite the many difficulties involved.
The address of the Keren Hashevi'is is: Chazon Ish 39, POB
659, Bnei Brak, 51105.
