"The Beis Hamikdosh was destroyed and the Jewish nation was exiled from its land because they did not observe Shmittah. Hence everybody who wants to speed up our Redemption, everyone who holds the Land dear, should be a partner in the observance of this Mitzvah, and if we are not fortunate enough to observe ourselves the Mitzvah of Shmittah, still everyone can be a partner in it by supporting the Keren Hashvi'is" that assists the farmers in this endeavor."

This heartfelt statement was made by the Rosh Yeshiva of the Ner Isroel Yeshiva of Baltimore and member of the American Moetzes Gdoley Hatorah, Rabbi Aharon Feldman Shlitah, who was this week a guest of the Keren Hashvi'is and met with Shvi'is observing farmers in the Zallafon village, not far from Jerusalem. Rabbi Feldman could not hide his excitement and amazement at seeing the dear Jews who took upon themselves, with a great personal sacrifice, to let their field fallow during the Shmittah year.

Rabbi Feldman Shlitah is currently visiting the Holy Land and he has expressed his desire to visit with Shmittah-observant farmers in order to strengthen and encourage them toward the forthcoming Shmittah. It was arranged that he visit the village of Zallafon, where he met a number of farmers and viewed their fields together with the Rabbi Benzion Kugler, chairman of the Keren Hashvi'is Board of Governors, Rabbi Yisrael Yitzchok Mendelsohn, Board member, Rabbi Reuven Mayer, the head supervisor of the National Center for Shmittah-Observing Farmers, Mr. David Malkah, Jerusalem and Central Region coordinator and others.

Rabbi Feldman was deeply moved and impressed by the willingness of farmers such as Moshe Patichi to sacrifice so much for Shmittah observance. This is the first year that Mr. Patichi has decided to observe Shmittah by letting his fields stand fallow. Rabbi Feldman stated that seeing the great sacrifice of such farmers makes it understandable why the Sages of the Talmud said that those who observe Shmittah in their fields and orchards are regarded as "Valiant Warriors who obey His words" Tehillim (103:20).

Rabbi Feldman saw the fields of two of the farmers, Mr. Yosef Uzeri, who is a veteran Shmittah observer and Mr. Moshe Patichi that are now full of produce but will be desolate the next year. Moshe Patichi told the honored guest how Rabbi Mendelsohn, the Rabbi of Kommemiyut, has convinced him to undertake Shmittah observance.

"The Rabbi asked me, "If you observe Shabbos, why shouldn’t you observe Shmittah, the Shabbos of Land in the appropriate manner? It is rather obvious that you don’t even give a thought to, G-d forbid, work on Shabbos and it is the same Torah that commanded us to observe Shabbos commanded us to observe Shmittah. The words of Rabbi Mendelsohn, who quoted verses from the Torah that I read all the time, convinced me to be honest with myself and not to resort to all kinds leniencies and heteirim. My family did not accept this, but I decided to observe the Mitzvah in the most proper manner," said Mr. Patichi, whose words made a deep impression on Rabbi Feldman.

Rabbi Feldman Shlitah stated at the end of the visit that the sacrifice of the farmers manifests itself not only in their forfeiture of the crops of the fields, being left with nothing to sell during the Shmittah year. Another, not less important aspect is the fact that they let their farm equipment stand idle in spite of having to meet the monthly payments on it. On top of this, they must spend large sums of money to maintain their fields in order to prevent damage that occurs to land that has not been tilled.

"Torah sages of the past generation, such as the Avnei Neizer, and those who are still with us, are of the opinion that one who support Shmittah-observing farmers has a part in the Mitzvah. True, we are not fortunate enough to observe the Mitzvah ourselves, but any Jew can be a partner in it by supporting the Shmittah-observing farmers financially. There is no doubt that if the entire Orthodox Jewry would have gotten together to assist them, many other farmers would join their ranks and there would be a much wider Shmittah observance."

He continued by saying that, as he heard from the wonderful public activists, as he called them, there are many farmers who are ready to observe Shmittah if they could get some assistance. "It is impossible to give them all that they lose because of their Shmittah observance, but at least everyone should help them and everyone can be a partner by his contribution to Keren Hashvi'is that is doing all that it can to assist them."