Page 34 - HaMizrachi Tu BiShvat 5782 - USA

From Flatbush

to Ra’anana

Rabbi Reuven Boshnack

his year, I began learning Flatbush: What does this have to do Reuven: Ideally, yes, but not everyone
on Zoom with a friend from with those of us who don’t live in Israel? would or could. When Rav Kook was
Brooklyn’s Flatbush neigh- the Chief Rabbi of Yafo, the early kib-
Tborhood and an oleh living in Reuven: It has everything to do with butzim and moshavim had a problem.
us! Rav Kook believed that the Zionist
Ra’anana. Searching for a topic that pioneers returning to the Land were Shemitta was coming and the pioneers
might appeal to everyone, I suggested not just people who needed a place to were simply too poor to stop farming.
Rav Kook’s introduction to Shabbat live and make a living. They were a sign Some money was collected to support
Ha’Aretz, in which he explains the that the Jewish people were coming them, but it wasn’t enough. If all of
deeper purpose of Shemitta. The con- back to life, to live in their ancestral the farmers stopped working, would
versation went something like this: this new Yishuv survive? Would people
land. Hashem’s plan, and the purpose
of His covenant with our forefathers, starve? Rav Kook explained that the
was to create a holy nation – with police exile had made the Land and our people
Reuven: What do you think – should officers, soldiers, farmers, doctors (and fragile. We are living in historic times
we learn about Shemitta? even lawyers!) – that would serve Him when our nation and our Land are in
Flatbush: Yeah, I’ve been seeing ads in the Holy Land. Shemitta is also a sign the process of returning to their full
asking for money to help the Israeli our nation is being reborn. strength. And so, for now, we must rely
farmers for the last six months. Flatbush: What’s the difference on the heter mechirah.
Ra’anana: We’ve been wondering between that and Flatbush? Flatbush: I still can’t understand why
what Shemitta will be like this year. Reuven: In Flatbush, we’re loyal citi- this is ok. I can’t sell my business on
Last time we only bought our fruits zens of the United States, but it’s not Shabbat, even if it’s hard to make a
and vegetables from one store in the truly our country. Israel was promised living!
neighborhood. to our forefathers, and there is a fulfill- Reuven: But you can drive on Shabbat
Flatbush: One store? That’s crazy! ment of that promise in every part of or call Hatzalah if someone’s life is in
Why? life. It’s an organic connection between danger. Rav Kook saw the flowering of
body and soul. the Land and its settlers and concluded
Ra’anana: It was the only store that that during this time, when we’re still
sold produce grown in a place that Ra’anana: It’s different in Israel; a shadow of our former selves, we need
wasn’t part of biblical Israel and so the Judaism doesn’t feel like an artificial to rely on this leniency. In the future,
laws of Shemitta didn’t apply to that appendage here. the Land and the people will grow and
produce. That way, we got around the Flatbush: Are we still talking about fully come back to life, and they will
whole problem. Shemitta? keep Shemitta together.
Flatbush: Last year, we rented a bit of Ra’anana: Yeah, I thought we would
land in Israel through Keren Hashviis to talk about the heter mechirah, where we
keep Shemitta ourselves by not work- sell the Land like chametz so it can still Rabbi Reuven Boshnack is the co-director
ing the land we rented. What else is be worked during Shemitta. of OU-JLIC at Brooklyn College with his wife
there to know? for the last 13 years. He received his semicha
Flatbush: Are you kidding, like Pesach? from RIETS, and holds a Masters in Education
Reuven: Rav Kook had a lot to say about and a Masters in Mental Health Counseling.
the meaning of Shemitta for us and the Ra’anana: Some people accept the sale A talmid of Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, he has
entire world; he believed Shemitta is and some don’t. That’s why they try to taught Chassidut, Jewish thought and Jewish
our nation’s love song to its Land! He raise money for the farmers who won’t Law for the last 20 years in Brooklyn and Boca
rely on this leniency.
wrote this book while he was the Rav of Raton. Rabbi Boshnack has written three
Yafo and the surrounding agricultural Flatbush: Shouldn’t they stop farming books on Jewish thought, on the writings of
communities. on Shemitta? That’s the law, right? the Sfat Emet, the Izhbitzer and the Maharal.

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