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It is obvious that most of the interpretations and implementations of Shmita today has departed somewhat from the original intent of this law, namely to allow farm land to lie fallow every 7 years, to trust G-d for providing for His people in the Land and to help out the poor by canceling out debts.

However, we must also remember that despite all the difficulties, there seems to be a desire to at least honor this commandment in some form or another. If you think about it for a minute: never in the history of Israel has there ever been this amount of farming on the Land, which probably makes the observance of this mitzvah harder than ever before.

There are a lot of issues at hand. This article might provide some additional background for those interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmita.

SD: Thanks Avner, those are some good points. (For those who don't know, Avner is our brilliant designer and webmaster who lives outside of Ashkelon, Israel).

Avner | October 31, 2007 11:16 AM

With all the land that Israel has had taken from her I would think that in some way it's getting it's rest year round. Only Israel is not in charge of it at this time. Rant out of the way..... It seems to me, if Israel had been observing this mitzvah all along then it wouldn't have been a problem. I know I'm jumping the gun in assuming that the farmers have not been following this tradition all along. If they had it would seem that this would not have been a problem. Sorry, I don't know my history very well, help me out here please. Why, if so, did they stop following the mitzvah of the Shemittah? Was it due to oppression, war and such?

SD: The reason it stopped was because of the exile that began in 135 CE with the defeat of Bar Kochba. Millions of Jews were exiled from the land, with many going to the cities of Babylonia. The Jews that managed to remain in the Land suffered from tumultuous conditions where issues like Shemittah were laid aside. I don't blame them either. They had many other things to worry about. When Jews did begin to farm the Land in the later 19th century, most kibbutzim (agricultural communes) were typically not religious, but were secular Zionists who regarded the Torah as nothing more than a work of ancient history. In other words, it was something to learn and appreciate (since it is Jewish history), but not something to practice. Plus, even among the religious, there are varying opinions. Some believe it is not in force without a Sanhedrin. Others say that it isn't is force when the Yovel (Jubilee) year isn't counted. Many things complicate the matter, but we should be glad that Israel is at least talking about the issue and trying to come up with a solution.

jay | October 31, 2007 8:21 PM

Please read this article about Shemittah posted in 2004 on Arutz7 but actually written not long after 9/11

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/3743

Here is a more recent post which is a response to Avi Shafran.
bs"d

As an opinion piece to the JPOST, Avi Shafran, spokesperson for Agudath Yisroel of America writes:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1192380633849

My comment to Rabbi Shafran

Dear Rabbi Shafran, amv"sh
In your article it mentions that this year "100,000 acres are expected to be left fallow in accordance with the Torah's direction". My question to you is are these fields really open? If so, let's organize Shemittah picking tiyulim where groups have a fun time collecting produce and then cook up a storm and have Shemittah Kiddushim eating all the yummy food that was cooked.

Here is how a Shemittah Tiyul can be arranged. Let one person be the driver, another person or the driver offer his/her vehicle and another offer to pay gas. Let all the passengers do the picking. Kids would have a blast! It's great for all ages. Best of all, lets eat!

I believe that the correct way to keep Shemitta is by having open fields and free to pick. Nowhere do I see that even encouraged. Why is it only open to Otzar Haaretz? Why do they put plastic in the ground and import earth from elsewhere and say it's Shemittah LeMehadrin? Where is the spirit of Shabbat according to Rabbi Shafran in the way Shemittah is observed? It's supposed to be a year of free eating from Jewish fields, and not a year of shortages or a year of Y.N. (Yevul Nochri) which has become Kosher LeMehadrin. Isn't that a contradiction of terms? His article makes it sound like the observance promoted by Agudah is truth. If it was truth than there is no way that Agudath Yisroel would be Silent regarding the State of Palestine. Because a State of Palestine is a direct result of not keeping Shemittah properly. It's a contradiction in terms. Saying Tehillim is wonderful but to keep Shemittah you need the LAND! To keep tefillin you need a hand and a head. The Torah was not given to Malachim who have no parents to keep Kibud Av VeAim. The Torah can be learned in Lakewood but is only can be observed in Eretz Yisroel on physical Land that has Jewish Sovereignty. Unless Abbas converts to Judaism, the State of Palestine which Agudath Yisroel has yet to publicly oppose will not observe Shemittah. Isn't it inconsistent to oppose HM (Heter Mechira) which is symbolic selling of the land and yet be complicit with Olmerts real plans to give not even sell the Land of Israel to our enemies?????

SD: Thanks for all that great info Robin.

Robin Ticker | October 31, 2007 10:31 PM

The power of Shmita is in the relationships. The idea mentioned above of getting together and eating, sounds yummy.

Personally, for me, this IS the concluding year; after six years of engagement in the Native American and Jewish communities and culture, I am taking this year off. It has not really been my choice. I hurt myself, and had to quit working. It is a long story. But I keep coming back to the quote by Hirsch, "equality...with the poorest inhabitant." Without unemployment or disability, yup, I can say, I really am rubbing shoulders with the poorest.

However, I in no way want your sympathy, just sharing my story to show how Shmita is real in my family's life. This is a PLANNED cessation, I kinda knew it was coming, but really didn't want to embrace it. And I have trust in the middle that this is the right path for me. Not an halachic Shmita, rather a Real-Relational-Ruach led Shmita.

So we retire, we visit friends, we eat, and I do not stress about this. I prepare my home for sale, but do not see the proceeds yet (in the midst of this real estate crisis who does?) I am looking at my life from the context of Shmita and what Yah wishes to convey to me, what His rest is, for me during this time.

I also have the sense that after this year, this year of rest, of relationship, that a new week is coming, day 8, a new beginning for me and my family. Something new as well for the entire body of Messiah. I am curious what it is for individuals, what they see the Ruach doing in their lives that is out of the ordinary, a seventh day thing.

Later

John Fall | November 6, 2007 1:25 PM