YeshivaThe torah world Gateway Beit Midrash
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : The idea [you mentioned] of fulfilling the mitzva of Shemitta partially by not cultivating all of the possible land was raised and accepted in the past by the Chacham Bashi (Sephardic Chief Rabbi) Hagaon Harav Elyashar z"l of Yerushalayim. He did not employ your reasoning.
The way I look at it, if we do not cultivate a set percentage of fields, it will make the arrangement seem like a set system and give the impression that this is the proper way to fulfill the mitzva of Shemitta. Therefore, I expanded the degree of strictness, so that the following is the way we remind people that the mitzva of Shemitta is binding.
Even after the leniency based on the sale of the land, we permit working the fields only for that which is needed to keep the agricultural settlements viable. Every settlement has many plots, much more than a dunam per farmer, that are not needed for their survival. This includes gardens for beauty and certain produce that is not critical to the settlements’ economy. Certainly, uncultivated land is not included in the sale. In regard to these areas, the mitzva is fulfilled and it at least enables the existence of the laws of Shemitta to not be forgotten. This forces people to ask expert rabbis questions about the details. Certainly, the rulings depend on how pressing the needs are, and this reinforces the feeling that we have to try our hardest to fulfill the mitzva as completely as possible and the realization that the leniency of the sale is due to the pressing circumstances. This is more felt in the way we are doing it in comparison to setting a fixed percentage of land that is not used.
[We will skip over a paragraph dealing cryptically with Tamudic sources on these matters.] As far as whether the mitzva is considered "uprooted," the matter depends on various opinions. If the [laws of Shemitta in our times] are Rabbinic, then part of the mitzva is fulfilled by the fact that we do not allow, according to our instructions, a Jew to do the work that is forbidden by Torah law when Shemitta is a Torah-level mitzva. Only if Shemitta is presently forbidden based on Rabbinic law, then if all the Rabbinic laws are in force, it is considered creatively uprooting the whole mitzva, and then we have to rely on the fact that it does not apply to all fields. We have already instituted not to allow planting new fruit trees, and since most posit that planting trees is Rabbinically prohibited, we have thereby maintained some Rabbinic laws.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
169 - Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part IV
170 - Keeping Shemitta Partially – #272
171 - The Need for a Broader Education – #274
Load More
Regarding the yeshiva [in Yafo], the "root" I began with is starting to take hold. On Rosh Chodesh Adar I, there was a test, and I see blessing in the project.
Your great book, which I love with my soul, is considered among us one of the very important courses of study. Sometimes I lecture to them on some of the chapters from within the book and add my own philosophy on the matters. I hope that when things are more settled, we will have your book on hand, and there will be very serious study and inquiry on it. In order to get the institution running financially, we have decided to have a raffle. We hope it will be officially approved soon by the governmental authorities.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit

P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale That Turned Out Not Happening – part II
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)

P'ninat Mishpat Who Breached the Contract? – part IV
Based on ruling 81087 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts

P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale that Turned Out Not Happening – part III
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)

Igrot Hare’aya Possibilities of Creating Religious Moshavot – #284 – part II
Date and Place: 1 Adar II, 5670 (1910), Yafo

Igrot Hare’aya Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
Date and Place: 5 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot (probably)

Igrot Hare’aya Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part I
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Date and Place: 11 Shevat 5670, Yafo
Lessons
fast navigation

Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.

Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.

Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.

Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.

The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?

Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.

Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.








