Page 8 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'Av AUS 2021

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

Shemita

Another Reason to Come to Israel

here is a prohibition of harvesting Shemita. All the orchards and fields in 2. Leftovers: One can place them in a bag
produce during Shemita. However, Israel are hefker. The week begins. A family and dispose of them in the garbage
it is permissible to eat the actual needs apples, dates and cherries. Where (or place all the leftovers in one bag,
Tproduce of the seventh year. should they go? Their journey begins with and at the end of the day tie it up and
Chazal taught us that it is permissible to a trip to the Golan. There they will find throw it in the garbage). The scrupu-
pick the produce with a shinui. Some hold apples for the week. Afterwards, they lous place the leftovers in a special
that a shinui is needed for the method of travel to the Jordan Valley for dates, then utensil (kedushat sheviit container) in a
picking (דועו ,ו”מ ח”פ תיעיבש ארונטרב). For to Gush Etzion for cherries. This trip will bag, and only after a number of days,
example, cutting with scissors instead of take a good number of hours, maybe even when the leftovers begin to decay,
a pruning hook. However, the Rambam a whole day. It’s clearly not realistic. they put them in the garbage. One
(א”ה ד”פ הטימש) holds that one can pick need not remove Shemita vegetables
the produce as normal, but only a small from a mixture; one can place all of
quantity. Why? It is prohibited to plant the leftovers in the sheviit container.
even one seed, so why would picking be
allowed in a small quantity? The Chazon 3. A dish which was cooked together
Ish explains that the prohibition of pick- with Shemita produce and absorbed
ing applies only when one is acting as the Today, we do not have korbanot, its flavor takes on the status of she-
owner of the land. The earth is not ours. we cannot eat maaser sheini viit, and one may not throw it out, but
Therefore, it is permissible to pick and har- or neta revai. Kedushat sheviit must place it in a bag before placing it
vest a household amount of produce, as is the closest thing we have in the garbage (in this case, even the
much as a person would buy for his to a Beit HaMikdash reality. scrupulous may do so).
family in the store (one should try to 4. One may cook things one normally
cut even this with scissors and not a cooks. The poskim were divided regard-
pruning hook). The only realistic solution is otzar beit din. ing squeezing sheviit fruits, but the
The beit din picks the fruit for all of Am Yis-
However, the Tosefta (א ,’ח תיעיבש) rael and distributes it around the country. Chazon Ish was lenient regarding
expounds that the beit din can Additionally, the produce of otzar beit din is fruits one normally squeezes. There-
appoint workers (or the field’s holy with kedushat sheviit! fore, one may mash fruits for children
owner) as its emissaries, or adults. One who cooks normally
who pick all of the Why is it so worthwhile to eat kedushat in the kitchen should have no special
produce on their sheviit? There are those who hold there is difficulty, and can use sheviit produce
behalf. How is that a mitzvah to eat Shemita produce (ן“במר). as normal.
possible? Here too, Even for those who do not hold that it is We are living in the times of Geula. How
we can understand that a mitzvah, they still agree there is kedusha fortunate we are to eat the fruits of Israel
since the act is not done in Shemita produce. Today, we do not have in kedusha!
for an individual, there korbanot, we cannot eat maaser sheini or
is no “ownership” of the neta revai. Kedushat sheviit is the closest
land. The workers are thing we have to a Beit HaMikdash reality.
picking on behalf of the beit We have the opportunity to eat holy food
din, who are acting on behalf from the Holy Land! Therefore, even if it
of Am Yisrael, and therefore creates certain difficulties, we should be
it is permissible (שיא ןוזח ואר so happy for this incredible zechut which
ו ,ב”י תיעיבש). we merit once every seven years. Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Rosh Yeshiva
In my opinion, otzar beit And truthfully, it is not so difficult to keep of JCT–Machon Lev and Head of Mizra-
din is the best solu- a Shemita kitchen. Here are the main rules: chi’s Educational Advisory Board.
tion for Shemita. Let’s
imagine a reality in 1. It’s desirable to eat the fruit entirely, A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
which everyone keeps because of their kedusha. mizrachi.org/speakers

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