Page 13 - HaMizrachi Tu BiShvat 5782 - USA

SHEMITTA IN SHORT

View our series of short, concise and
practical videos on Shemitta, pre-
sented by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, at
mizrachi.tv/shemitta

RIS: According to halachah, all debts idea of JobKatif: To help people stand exaltation, a flavor of unity and good
are forgiven at the end of the Shem- on their own two feet. By the same and lofty values.
itta year. Today’s common practice token, our organization, which today  This interview was originally published in
is to write a Prozbul so that debts are is called La’Ofek, helps people who lost Hebrew in Olam Katan.
not erased. Is there any reason today their work due to Covid.”
to follow the biblical law and forgive RIS: How can those who are not
debts entirely?
farmers strengthen our connection to
RYZR: Of course there is. Some people Shemitta?
have real problems. I’m not a wealthy RYZR: There are other ideas that you
person myself, but before the last can adopt, things that don’t belong
Shemitta year, I had loaned significant to the laws of Shemitta but carry the
amounts of money to a few people. At message of Shemitta. For example, try
the end of the Shemitta year, I realized adopting a “Shemitta hour.” What does IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
they were in bad shape, financially, and that mean? In the past, everyone was a
so I told them I was relinquishing the
loans. farmer. Today not everyone is, so let’s
“relinquish” an hour every week for
People shouldn’t be educated not to pay chessed. If everyone in Israel gave an Rabbi Itamar Segal is an educator and
debts, G-d forbid, but they should be hour of their week to chessed, we would publicist, and deputy editor of Olam Katan.
educated to think of those who have revolutionize Israeli society! And per- Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of Mizrachi’s
real problems. The goal of the mitzvah haps, in addition to a Shemitta hour, Educational Advisory Board and Rabbinic
is to rebalance and reset society, to we should also institute a “family hour” Council. He serves as the Rabbi of the Gush
make it possible to start anew. We have in all of our homes. The goal is to leave Etzion Regional Council, Rosh Yeshivah of the
a responsibility for all of society, to let Shemitta with a unique flavor for the Jerusalem College of Technology and is the
people get out of the hole. That was the following years, a flavor of holiness, Founder and Chairman of Sulamot.

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