By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Israel is opening up for seminaries and Yeshivos once again – because of the vaccines. And the following information is crucial to know. This year, on account of Shemittah, there will be all sorts of different words and terms floating around, with which we may not be so familiar. “Yevul Nochri” signs will be seem in stores all over Yerushalayim, as well as “Otzar Beis Din” fruit. There will be a “pach shviis can” in places that we visit together. What do all these terms mean? How come we never learned about all of this when we were in Yeshiva? PLEASE HELP A WONDERFUL BAALEI TESHUVAH COUPLE GET MARRIED! https://thechesedfund.com/zechornilah/weddingoftwobaaleiteshuva To address this issue, the following article about Shmittah has been prepared. Opportunity for Dveikus Each of the Mitzvos of the Torah are each unique, not only in respect to the details of their specific halachos, but also in terms of their unique manner in which they foster, Dveikus Bashem, developing a close relationship with HaKadosh Boruch Hu. The relationship with one’s parents is instructive here. A son who has lost his father can fondly recall when his father helped him with homework, as well as when he may have gotten up in the middle of the night to go out and purchase a specific medicine. Reviewing both of these recollections serves to strength the bonds and connection that the son had with his father. Each of the 613 Mitzvos offer us a different way in which we can further bond with Hashem, our Father. The Mitzvah of Shmittah is no different. The Shmittah year occurs every seven years. This upcoming year, 5781, is the next Shmittah year. This Mitzvah serves to remind us to look at and to place our trust in Hashem. In the Torah, Hashem promises Klal Yisroel that the produce of the sixth year will be blessed in both quantity and quality. During the seventh year, the owners of the fields do not own the produce that is produced. It is to be shared equally among all, owner and non-owner alike. The land belongs to Hashem, and the owners must not prevent access to the shviis produce. There are also two other reasons for the Mitzvah of Shmittah. The Mitzvah reminds us of the inherent sanctity of our holy land. The verse in VaYikrah (25:4) states, “It shall be a Sabbath of Sabbaths for the land.” Only the land of Eretz Yisroel has this holiness, and we must be reminded of this every seven years in order for us to appreciate it. The final reason is found in Sefer Shmos, where we are commanded to provide for the tired and the poor, “And the poor of your nation shall eat.” Here we are enjoyed to emulate the Creator, the Ultimate Giver, and be charitable and giving ourselves. Biblical or Rabbinical? There is a debate as to whether Shmittah nowadays is still d’oraisah, or whether it is Rabbinic. The criterion as to whether it is Rabbinic or Biblical is quite fascinating. It depends upon demographics, if the majority of Klal Yisroel lives in Eretz Yisroel then it becomes d’oraisah. This is the opinion cited in the Sma (CM 67:2). The Chazon Ish, however, holds that even nowadays it is d’oraisah (Shviis […]

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