NPR: An Update on the Shmita Year

An Update on the Shmita Year

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From Oct. 10, Rabbi Julian Sinclair explains the shmita year

A couple of weeks ago, you may recall, we did a segment on the shmita year controversy in Israel.

The shmita year takes place every seventh year and, among other things, requires Jewish farmers to let their fields lie fallow. Decades ago, rabbis in Israel devised some ways for farmers to essentially circumvent the rule, but a new guard at the Chief Rabbinate was proposing changes to the methods of observance that would take away many farms' kashrut (kosher) certifications.

Apparently I've been designated the BPP's shmita year beat reporter, so I'm here to bring you the latest, as reported in Ha'aretz:

"The High Court of Justice yesterday ruled in favor of farmers and against the Chief Rabbinate on the issue of kashrut certification for produce grown during the shmita, or sabbatical, year."

Dan Pashman

10:56 AM ET | 10-25-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

now,i know what shmahta and shmita mean... any high court of justice that makes rulings that "bring into proportion" extreme and extremely old religious practices and rules that intrude on our ability to make reasonable choices is a very good thing...hold onto the past with all your might and you'll have no strength left to understand what's needed in the present...

Sent by jay | 4:17 PM ET | 10-25-2007

i am doin a report and may be you should add on some of the halochos of shmitta i know it would help me and the next grade in my school they have the same report(if you can maybe you can write it in hebrew)

Sent by Michal | 6:15 PM ET | 03-04-2008

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