SHMITA AND LEKET ISRAEL
SHMITA- BACKGROUND
The Shmita Year begins on the 1st of the Hebrew month of Tishri 5775 (September 25, 2014)
The mitzvah (biblical commandment) of Shmita (the Sabbatical year) initiates a year of rest. Shmita is a commandment to farmers to allow the land to rest every 7 years during which time he must allow for all people and animals to enter his field and reap the benefit of the land. This year also initiates a financial freedom- breaking any bondage of obligatory payments over the past 6 years and begins a new cycle.
In modern times, with the majority of Israel’s population not being in the agricultural field or religious, Shmita only affects a small portion of the population. Shmita was reinstituted as a norm when the land of Israel was resettled 100 years ago. Therefore, Shmita does not affect the day-to-day lives of the majority of Israel’s residents; they do not see it as relevant to their lives in the 21st century.
LEKET ISRAEL AND THE SHMITA YEAR
The laws of Shmita are extremely relevant to the agricultural work of Leket Israel. The decisions regarding Leket Israel’s operations during the Shmita year are based on extensive research and intensive evaluation of the topic:
- During the Shmita year, Leket Israel will continue to operate under the clause of heter mechira as instituted and accepted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel
- The clause of heter mechira enables Jewish farmers to sell their land to non-Jews and allows for the country’s agriculture to continue. If it were not for this clause, the entire agricultural sector would suffer both financially and in terms of productivity.
- The Leket Israel farm in Moshav Nahalal will commence with regular volunteer activities based on the heter mechira clause
- The HaTov V’haMetiv fields just outside Rehovot (*fields not owned by Leket Israel; the field’s owner does not rely on heter mechira) will allow for volunteers up until February 2015; all produce that will be picked up until this time being planted prior to the start of the Shmita year. After which point, volunteer activities will be on hiatus until the conclusion of the Shmita year.
- Gleaning produce from agricultural fields- we anticipate the majority of farmers will not want to destroy crops which were planted during Shmita and therefore will donate the produce to Leket Israel.
- The activities of the organization, rescuing surplus food for the needy will continue to grow over the course of the Shmita year (sans fruits and vegetables). We hope to supply produce as well in accordance with the spirit of Shmita.
Leket Israel’s approach to Shmita highlights the humanitarian aspect of the mitzvah: caring for the poor
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