Personal Reflection on Israel Shmitta Trip 2008

The three prong objective of active service work, Jewish textual studies and supplementary education while on the Yeshiva University Winter Kollel and Service Corps in Israel was both thought evoking and life altering. Our Rabbi’s teach us that the Torah was given to the nation of Israel on condition that we act and fully embrace its texts. The launch of placing these three objectives together ultimately brought this dream and wish to fruition.

Besides for the mystical ability for this setup to build an uncanny sense of comradery between a group of twenty men, it also reiterated and reinforced that our Torah is not just a book of letters, but that its words are alive. Although the Torah was given thousands of years ago all of its values are as much alive today as they ever were.

Starting from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and then following suit at the Tower of Babel, the world has been plagued with strife, the Shmitta “issue” in Israel has proven to be no exception. The nation of Israel is socially, economically, politically and halachikally torn on this topic and briefly having the chance to hear all sides unfold was truly mind boggling. Nonetheless, it seems that the only antidote to this plague and strife is through the mediums in which we utilized during this trip. We were given the opportunity to listen from an American unbiased perspective, as representatives and specialists from different social groups within Israeli society expressed their enthusiasm and personal angst from Shmitta. I found it to be exciting that these members of Israeli society were legitimately discussing and toiling with the proper way to observe this biblical commandment (albeit possibly rabbinic nowadays). This was an inspiring and overwhelming experience that I for one, did not entirely soak up until the trip was entirely over and had already landed back in New York City.

By taking what I gained from this overseas excursion in Israel, and applying it back to my everyday interactions, will provide new light to the way that I study as well as interact with my contemporaries. The greater Jewish community has been blessed with a love and willingness to offer a helping hand. This compassion and sincerity towards others is otherwise known as, Tikkun Olam. While participating on Yeshiva University’s Winter Kollel and Service Corp, I found myself in situations which I had never dreamed that I would ever be in. I was in soup kitchens and warehouses that were donated to enriching the lives of the needy. I helped a woman who had virtually lost her entire livelihood in Gush Katif by partaking in weeding her greenhouses. I picked oranges from a 150 acre orchard that was entirely donated to charity. By having these interactions with the needy it made their predicaments real to me. These experiences humbled the fortunate and made us more willing to give. No longer was the needy woman in the soup kitchen just a story, but she became my story. The second that I helped her she helped me. While fully engulfed in these occurrences the words “kol yisrael areivim zeh ba zeh” rang in my ears. I recalled hearing teachings from my Rabbi’s who said, “Anyone who saves one life within the nation of Israel is as if he saved an entire world”. The amazing part about this adage is that while it is true that we helped many a person, they kindly reciprocated by helping us become better Jews.

Parshas Bishalach - "Who's the Conductor?"

Over the past week I have had the Privilege along with a group from Yeshiva University to learn about the halchakic, social, economical, and political aspects of Shmitta while interacting with Israeli society.

A side aspect of the trip has also been dedicated to placing an emphasis on Community service. While on one of our community service trips, I found a Parsha sefer that was written by a Rav from Kfar Roeh. I think that the following dvar Torah will prove to be a meaningful lesson in life as well as lend me the opportunity to reflect a bit about the Shmitta trip.

14:10 “Pharoah approached; the Children of Israel raised their eyes and behold!… Israel was very frightened; the children of Israel cried out to Hashem”

14:13 “Moshe said to the people, “Do not fear…”

It seems that the world as we know it today is filled with worries. An entire psychological language has been instituted, dedicated strictly to various anxieties that people have developed. Words like claustrophobia and agoraphobia have surfaced to describe these fears in short terms.

University studies have shown that 4 out of every 5 people have had anxiety attacks. 40% of these people have these attacks seemingly baselessly and 30% worry about things that they have no control over.

To express this on a more personal level, a story is told about a young girl who was calmly and rather peculiarly sitting alone on a train. Noticing the abnormality of the situation, one of the ticket collectors approached her and asked, “little girl, you are so young and inexperienced on the railways but you nonetheless look so calm and composed, how are you not troubled or anxious about the long journey which you are about the embark on ?” With an honest twinkle in her eye, the little girl responded, “my father is the conductor of this train; I trust that he will take me from station to station carefully and safely.”

For this exact reason Moshe Rabbeinu said, “Do not fear…” as the Egyptians quickly came in suit. Moshe was telling Klal Yisrael that although on the surface level, their lives may seem to be in danger; Hashem was the conductor of their procession. Their trust in Hashem should be as secure and sure as that little girl who sat on the train both careless and protected. Emunah is the medicine to all of our worries.

King David wrote in his book of psalms (27:1), “Hashem is my light and my savior…for what shall I fear”

While commentating within the context of Shmitta, the Sforno says, that Shmitta is not only a year to allow the land to lay fallow but it is also an opportunity for us as Jews to sit back and introspect on the six years that just passed, as well as, to make the proper preparations for the next six years that are to come.

While speaking to various figure heads in Israeli society whether they were entirely secular and only cared about the welfare of the country or to Haredi Rabbanim who saw the utmost importance in not desecrating the exact virtuous words of the Torah. It was clear that they shared one common goal which was that of maintaining a tradition in the observance of the Sabbatical year. While on the trip we continuously heard speakers talking about the economic state of Israel. Many of them mentioned that by completely allowing the land to lay fallow they would be putting the economy of Israel in jeopardy not only for this Shmitta year but also for the rest of time. So instead of totally getting rid of the halachik aspect of the issue they fully embraced it and placed Hashem and his Torah at the top of their priorities, hoping that as a result they still may be able to salvage the economy of the State.

This one micro controversy that troubles Israeli society is a paradigm of that which divides them.

Regardless, Emunah in Hashem will always reign supreme. The Shmitta year will end soon and the controversy will subside, at least until next time. The Jewish people however, will always exist for the rest of time.