Shmita and FAQs 🍎🍏🍌🐔🍑

 I have had a great time Zooming with students at Chabad schools and answering their questions about Shmita.  

I've had Zoom sessions with students on Long Island, Pittsburgh, Balitmore and a few more. Before we meet I send the teachers a link to a video I put together. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yUxssIYBVA

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I thought I'd share some FAQ- 

Did anything ever go wrong in your field during the year of Shmita?

This year we have had very hard rains. A lot of our fields flooded and we had damage. In Israel it only rains in the winter so we need the rain but too much rain can damage the trees. This is not the only time this has happened. We keep Shmita as a mitzvah just like any other mitzvah. I never check if this year is better or worse. I am very privileged to live in Israel and farm. I don't think whether it is related to keeping Shmita or not.

Do you ever have doubts about your field during this year?

I never have doubts. Farming is very difficult. Weather is the biggest influence and that is never in our hands.

What's your favorite part of Shmita?

For me, it is the privilege to live in Eretz Yisroel. It is a reminder that this land belongs to HaShem  It is like Shabbat - a reminder every week of what HaShem has given us. Living in Israel is a real privilege and living on farm is even greater. We are able to keep mitzvot that are only for Israel and for agriculture. This is why we wanted to share this with you and other students.

How many times does it rain by you?

It only rains in the winter and like I said this year we got a lot of rain. 

Is there a difference in taste in the fruits that grow during Shmita and the other 6 years?

Right now fruits are not Kedushat Shvit. Vegetables and any Pri Adamah like bananas are. Our fruit is always wonderful. The fruit and vegetables are better in Israel

How do you keep things somewhat orderly without plowing?

We can use pesticides if needed although we try not to for health reasons. Some of our fields are overgrown this year that is for sure. We can cut grass and weeds if it is food for the animals and we do a lot of that.

Is there a question you asked a Rav that stands out?

We needed a new water system this year. We ordered and planned everything so we could complete the work before Rosh Hashanah and Shmita. Many parts did not arrive in time so I asked the Rav what to do. We were going to need to dig up the ground in order to put in the water system. He told me we HAD to go ahead. If we did not put in the water system many of our trees would die. This is not the purpose of Shmita.

To what extent do you water, and with what שינוי?

Our water system is on a timer. So we just changes the times and amounts.

Can you share about a Heter Mechira?

In our Moshav, many farmers chose to Heter Mechira. Heter Mechira is like selling your Chamatz for Pesach. There is a signed contract between the farmer and the buyer. Basically the farm runs as it did before. 
You need to think about Shmita today. Most people are not farmers and their income is not affected by Shmita. Only farmers (and a few others) and farming is a very hard way to make an income. Heter Mechira lets the farmer continue. 

Also what would we eat in Israel? Do we want to import produce for almost 2 years? Heter Mechira is based on the time when the Jews started to come back to Israel in the late 1800s. The Rabbis realized they needed a way to keep Shmita but provide food.

Can you share a personal story of how Shmita affects you or those you now?

I am privileged to live in Israel and farm. I do not check what I get for keeping mitzvot. We prepared for Shmita and now we keep the mitzvah. If we get anything more than just the privilege we have in return I would not know. 

Do you have a financial loss?

Otzar Beit Dein is our way of getting through Shmita financially. We still sell. We knew of course that Shmita was coming so we made some changes ahead. We did not plant vegetables this year. We make most of our money from tours to our farm. People come to learn about our farm. We also make money from the animals and that is not affected by Shmita. 

As farmers there is always faith in HaShem. We pray for rain, dew etc. This year is no different.

It is Shmita

 This year is Shmita in Israel. Shmita occurs once every 7 years and this is the 3rd time we've have the privilege to keep Shmita as farmers here in Israel. Shmita started on Rosh Hashanah this year and will end at Rosh Hashanah next year.

The laws of Shmita come from the Torah.  Shmita is a time when among other things, we are reminded that the land does not really belong to us, it belongs to G-d. The produce also does not belong to us - it is there for all the Jewish people and it helps us remember and see that we are all equal.

So as a farmer in Israel what does this mean for us? During Shmita, the land rests - no planting, no plowing and no pruning. But we have to eat and we can't just let our trees die. Fortunately there are solutions that let us work with the reality and keep the mitzvah. 

I'll just write a little about what we are doing and why. We've decided to keep the mitzvah of Shmita by signing a contract with the local Beit Dein (Rabbinical Court). This is called Otzar Beit Dein. This contract says that, they are responsible for distributing all of our produce. 

Where does this come from? Remember that all produce is available to all the Jewish people. That means that anyone can go to any tree/plant and take the produce but only what they need for 3 days.

Imagine how that would work. I live in the city and I get up each day and drive out to a farm where I pick enough vegetables and fruits just for the next few days. I might have to go to several farms and walk through several fields just to do this. And then, I'd have to the same thing over and over again for the year. 

Now think about how much harder that was in the time of the Mishna when the idea of Otzar Beit Dein was implemented. 

So it was decided that farmers could harvest their produce and give it all to the Beit Dein to distribute. The Beit Dein would make sure that it was distributed according to Halacha (Jewish Law). The farmer was required to promise to keep the laws of Shmita. 

This solved part of the problem, but what about the farmers' expenses like water to keep the trees alive and workers to pick the produce? So, the Beit Dein allowed the farmers to be the managers of their farms and determine their costs. The Beit Dien then paid the farmers to cover their expenses - not for the produce. 

Let's go to how this works today. I said, we signed a contract with the local Beit Dein that they would distribute our produce. In the contract, we promised to keep the laws of Shmita; no planting, no plowing and no pruning. The Beit Dein in turn has made us the managers of our farm. It has given us authority to distribute the produce. We can ask for payment that will cover our expenses. We are not asking for payment for the produce  - just to cover our costs.

This means that although our farm is running we are able to keep the mitzvot of Shmita. We aren't planting anything, We aren't plowing and preparing the ground in any way and we are not pruning any trees to enhance their growth. But we have plenty of beautiful citrus and bananas now and hopefully we'll have much more as the year goes on.

Here's a simple video, I put together for some young students.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yUxssIYBVA&t=4s