Last Monday afternoon Avreichim and the agricultural branch of the ‘Chavrutah’ partners in Learning Program, met at the home of the Godol Hador HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita in Bnei Brak. Ayelet Hashachar has hundreds of farmers who learn in its one-to-one partner based Chavrutah Program weekly by telephone.  With the upcoming Shmittah (Sabbatical) year approaching, emphasis is on the practical application of the challenge of how to observe the rules of allowing the land to lie fallow for an entire year.

 

70 farmers signed a special petition asking the Godol to bless them with success in their phenomenal effort to survive a year without tilling their fields and working their land in the normal manner. Holding the papers in his hand, the Rav gave them his blessing filled with warmth and good tidings. He then answered some specific questions in regard to how to fulfill particular mitzvahs that relate to the Land of Israel. With that, each member of the group approached him and was given an individual blessing for success.

 

At the home of HaRav Gershon Edelstein, the group was similarly greeted with warmth and received the Ponevitcher Rosh Yeshiva’s blessing once again.

 

At the home of Rav Aaron Leib Steinman, Ayelet Hashachar received a special blessing that they should see success in their holy work. The Rosh Yeshiva was visibly excited to hear the personal Shmittah story of one of the farmers, Roie Bar Zakai of Kidron. During the previous Shmittah year, he had suffered a fire throughout his vineyard. Upon seeing the damage he intended to uproot the burned out stems, but was told that this is against the halocha. Although doubtful, he agreed to leave them and hope for the best. To his surprise and amazement, the burned vines gave forth a bumper crop in the following years.

 

Such is the blessing one receives from keeping Hashem’s holy Torah!