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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : To avoid difficult leniencies that include work with the potential of Torah-level violation (done by Jews during Shemitta), we should create a fund to support [Jewish] agricultural workers, as they will have less work for their livelihood, since non-Jews will need to do some of it. The fund can also help poor farmers who generally do all of their own work and now will need to hire non-Jewish workers for actions that are forbidden by the Torah on Shemitta.
There are also, thank G-d, complete, G-d-fearing people who want to keep the mitzva as it was given and refrain from all work according to the laws of Shemitta. They deserve a special fund or to have a set part for them from within the general fund [that helps people observe Shemitta].
The above relates to this year, but we must also be concerned with the permanent status of Shemitta. If Hashem will have mercy on us and bring Mashiach quickly in our days, and we will not need these steps, we still will not have lost the reward for the mitzva of trying to uphold the sanctity of the Land, in case it will take longer [for Mashiach to come]. In order to be able to set the sanctity of the Land for generations, we must first establish a large institution that will suffice to support all of the owners of fields that grow grains and vegetables etc. that do not have an issue with maintaining commercial relationships. They will be able to cease work during Shemitta if they are supported during the year. The fund must be significant enough to also assist workers. Ideally, such an organization would initiate halachically non-problematic building and industry, who can employ these workers throughout the year of Shemitta.
When the organization will engage an abundance of diligent workers who are involved in this holy work with great vigor, then we can extend the idea so that even in vineyards and orchards, where there is no choice but to sell or rent to a non-Jew, because of the need to continuous commercial connections, it would still be possible to remove the land’s sanctity by renting to a non-Jew along with non-problematic things. Then, non-Jewish workers can work in the fields and Jewish laborers can work on building and in all elements of the economy with which the organization will be involved. This will make up for the lack of work during Shemitta.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
179 - False Accusation of Non-Kosher Soap – #333
180 - Asking Restraint from Insulted New Yishuv – #334
181 - Worse on the Outside, Better on the Inside – #332
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Regarding commerce, this year, when we need to uproot the sanctity, using an element of "trickery," it is proper to also include non-problematic elements to "swallow up" the problematic ones. The contracts should say that the money is not for the fruit but for the work and equipment. When orchards will be rented out to non-Jews, it will be improper to be stringent regarding non-Jewishly owned fruit, as was decided in the times of the Beit Yosef.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Multiple Agreements and Parties – part IV
based on final ruling of 80082 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael
#222 Date and Place: 2 Elul 5669 (1909), Rechovot
P'ninat Mishpat Payment for Not Clearing Warehouse On Time – part II
based on ruling 75076 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
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part III
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Involving Baron Rothschild in Religious Efforts – #278
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 14 Adar 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Ties to Religiously Controversial Events/Organizations 1. #293
Date and Place: Iyar 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
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Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part I
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Our King on Rosh Hashana, Our Father on Yom Kippur.
Based on Aroch Siach, p. 221 (Rav Shaul Yisraeli)
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
