e-mitzion The official newsletter of Midreshet HaRova 5th edition- Yom Hatzmaut 5768 ים” “כי ירושל מציון תצא תורה ודבר ה’ מ

דינה שהיא ביסודה אידיאלית, שחקוק בהויתה התוכן האידיאלי היותר מעליון, שהוא באמת האושר היותר גדול של היחיד. YEARS מדינה זו היא באמת היותר עליונה בסולם האושר. 60 ומדינה זו היא מדינתנו, מדינת ישראל, יסוד כסא ה' בעולם, TO THE STATE שכל חפצה הוא שיהיה ה' אחד ושמו אחד ,שזהו באמת האושר היותר עליון

רב קוק זצ"ל OF

בן שישים לזקנה... )מסכת אבות( In order to suggest a possible answer to our In this Edition: t the very beginning of question, I would like to refer to a sicha given Parashat Vayakhel, the by Rabbi Orenstein, and recorded in his A From the Rosh informs us that Moshe sefer "HaNeum V'haDrush" Rabbi Orenstein gathered all of Am Yisrael astutely points out that when we delve into together in order to inform the details of the episode involving the them of the specific details golden calf, we quickly discover that in the Dayenu regarding the building of the Mishkan. immediate aftermath of the sin 3000 people were overtly punished. Although 3000 is not From Rav Shames Yet what stands out from the very first verse such a small figure in itself, when compared of the Parasha is the almost unique use of to the estimated 2.5 million men, women and On laws of Shmitta the word "Vayakhel". Why specifically in children who actually left Egypt (600,000 men Practical Directions for this instance is the gathering of the masses older than twenty, at least as many younger, the Shmitta Year מאמרו של ראש המדרשה stressed? It is fair to assume that on every and the equivalent amount of women), the occasion Moshe had information to pass on overall percentage is minimal. Indeed, in to the people that he gathered them; we must stark contrast to the sin of the spies where Dates of when Fruit therefore conclude that the use of the word an entire generation shared responsibility for becomes Holy with in this particular case is aimed at teaching us the failing and was judged accordingly, in Kedushat Shviit something of great significance. our instance the brunt of the punishment was borne by a relatively small group of people. Words of thanks from a Netivot Shalom suggests that since Vayakhel Bogeret immediately followed the sin of the golden When we look at the events leading up to the calf, there was a special need to unite the sin of the golden calf, we see that according Announcements people in the aftermath of the crisis. However, to the verse, the crisis that sparked the what the Rebbe does not tell us is why uniting episode in the first instance was the apparent the people was the most obviously relevant disappearance of Moshe Rabbeinu. Indeed, response to this particular affair? according to many commentators, the sin was not in essence one of idolatry, but rather that A Message from Rav Milston A Message Rav from of a bewildered dependent people in desperate search of developed. a new leader, lacking the required faith to wait just a little bit longer for the return of their savior. So what in fact Each year as we approach the festivals of geula, Purim, happened was that in the continuing absence of Moshe Pesach, and Yom Haatzmaut, I try to find a novel a vacuum was created, the people panicked, and that perspective for both myself and my students. This year very same vacuum was subsequently filled by a small but we are due to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the State powerful group of idol worshipping manipulators who of Israel, it seems only yesterday that we celebrated our led the masses in the wrong direction. 50th year - the last ten years have indeed simply flown by. Yet when searching for a message this year, I keep If we accept this analysis, then the picture that emerges finding myself back at Parashat Vayakhel. is one of apathy and complacency and not necessarily a scene of active mass transgression. The void was created We are experiencing a living miracle called Israel, every because people didn't care enough about the overall day that we exist here, despite being surrounded by a predicament of Am Yisrael. Each section multitude of enemies who would prefer of the community simply carried on to see us driven into the sea, is worthy of with their respective routines, and as a At the age of 60, Hallel. But there are so many areas that result of this negligence, an opportunity we have merited need improvement, and many of them are was presented for the wrong people, a to reach 'zikna' in the area of mutual responsibility and minority, albeit an influential one, to take initiative. We are lacking in true leadership, control of the leadership. In the absence old age, despite a problem that is not singular to Israel, but of any viable alternative, their objective the reality that true of the world as a whole. A vacuum was easily realized. surrounds us has been created, and if we do not take the initiative by getting even more involved, The sin of the golden calf was perpetrated then others will fill the gap in our stead. by few people, and they succeeded as a direct result of Perhaps they will lead us down a path that we don't want mass complacency and disunity. That being the case, the to go, the consequences of which would be extremely most obvious form of rectification in the aftermath of the difficult to swallow to say the least. sin would be to gather the people and emphasize the need for mutual responsibility and unity. There cannot be Over the last few years, many in our community have a reality where one group of Am Yisrael is heading down become disillusioned and even despairing of the direction the wrong path, whilst their brothers continue to function that we have been heading, religiously, culturally and routinely, oblivious to the negative dynamic developing politically. The natural response has been isolation, around the corner. There can be no reality where a regression and division. Whole communities that yeshiva of over a thousand dedicated students is on one were once positively proactive in their dedication and side of town, but at the same time, there is a shul that commitment towards the State have become tentative and cannot get a regular minyan together on the other side sometimes even apathetic about our National reality. But of the very same town. If the yeshiva simply continues in truth, Moshe Rabbeinu in Parashat Vayakhel teaches without in any way trying to aid the failing minyan, then us that the response so desperately needed is the exact there is something terribly wrong with our fundamental opposite one. If we wish the nation to take a certain path,

understanding of Klal Yisrael. then we must get even more involved, we must be even מאמרו של ראש המדרשה more initiating. Don't join the millions of critics on the With this in mind, we can understand the words of the sidelines, on the contrary, if there is a vacuum then we Netivot Shalom. Had there been mutual responsibility must take the opportunity to fill it, we must become the and initiative, this scandal would never have occurred leaders. The answer is not to isolate ourselves but to work in the first place. Moshe understands this and so before from within. Am Yisrael means all of Am Yisrael, and not moving forwards with the building of the Mishkan, he just those who agree with us and follow our lead. insists on first gathering the people in order to emphasize the need to unite in real terms. At the age of 60, we have merited to reach 'zikna' old age, despite the reality that surrounds us; the time has come It is both a unique and shocking way of looking at the for us to use the wisdom of old age, and the experience golden calf affair. Indeed, the only individuals in Am of history, in order to move forward into the future. Yisrael who at least tried to avert the disaster were Chur, who was subsequently killed in his attempts to stop So let us stand up and be counted, so that we can lead the 'erev rav', and Aharon HaCohen, whose delaying our people and country from political independence to tactics ultimately failed. Yet that in itself is a terrible religious fulfillment, and ultimately to geula sheleimah!

A Message from Rav Milston A Message Rav from indictment! Of the righteous majority of Am Yisrael only two individuals actively tried to deal with the crisis as it Chag Sameach! 60 years to the The State of Israel-”Hayinu Kcholmim” Rav Berg

דיינו... אילו הוציאנו...

•If the Vilna Gaon had only taught Am Yisrael that •If we had only won the Sinia Campaign we can herald Mashiach ben Yosef •If we had only witnessed the great miracles of •If Herzl had only created a political movement the Six Day War to found a Jewish State •If we had only received back Yerushalayim, •If only the language of the Tanach had been Hevron, Golan, Yehuda and Shomron revived and spoken •If we had only witnessed Israel overcoming •If "Bilu" had only founded Rishon Letzion, the surprise attack on Yom Kippur with great Petach Tikva and other settlements miracles when all seemed lost •If only the Balfour Declaration had been •If we had only witnessed countless miracles in declared the war against Arab terror •If Rav Kook had only envisioned the beginning •If we had not only witnessed Torah returning to of the flowering of the Geula Eretz Yisrael –Ki mitzion taytze Torah •If the Chalutzim had only established all the •If we had only witnessed thousands of Jews kibbutzim and settlements learning in hundreds of Yeshivot and Sems… •If the Allies had only managed to destroy the •If we only had the witnessed Israel becoming Nazi monster and save the rest of world Jewry a modern country leading the world in agriculture, hi-tech, finance, medicine and more •If the Etzel, Lechi and Hagana had only expelled the British •If we had only had the merit to be part of Midreshet Harova… •If David Ben Gurion had only declared the founding of the Jewish State •If we only had the great merit to see •If the tiny State of Israel had only miraculously SIXTY YEARS TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL… won the War of Independence דיינו... If we had only seen the land of Israel come to• life, flower and be filled with fruits we had only לפיכך אנחנו חייבים להודות witnessed the massive miracle of Kibbutz Galuyot להלל לשבח... If we had only seen Jews coming home from• למי שעשה לאבותינו ולנו את ,Morroco, Tunisia ,Yemen,Russia,North America South America, England, South Africa, Australia, כל הניסים האלה Europe and more ...ונאמר לפניו שירה חדשה... MedinatMedinat Yisrael Yisrael –– 60 60 Years Years old? old?

Rav Ari Shames

his year 5768 we mark the 60th birthday further than other nations of the same age in Tof the modern state of Israel. A birthday is science, industry, and infrastructure. There are not simply a reason for a party, but rather an more people learning more Torah today than ever opportunity for cheshbon hanefesh. before. In many respects we are celebrating a centennial or even bicentennial. The Piascenza Rav describes how we should view each year of our lives. We need to imagine what Of course, there are many other areas of our we want to be next year at this time. national life that are still immature What will we have accomplished, and adolescent. The general In a year's time, how will we develop? In a year's populace's commitment to the basic time, we need to take stock and we need to take anchors of Judaism is lacking, as is see if we have fulfilled our goals. stock and see if we the all important cohesive glue of a If not, we have lost a year of our have fulfilled our true feeling of unity. lives. If we have gone beyond our goals. If not, we goals, we have gained longevity. have lost a year of A birthday is a true time for evaluating A person's age is a function of our lives the past and setting goals for the accomplishments, not time. future. Hashem has provided us a historic gift, that the vast majority I think we can say the same for the lifespan of Jews throughout history were not fortunate of our country. In certain aspects we are "age enough to experience. appropriate", where one would expect a country to be 60 years down the line. In many ways, The responsibility is enormous, may we succeed I believe we are hundreds of years old. The in realizing the potential of Medinat Yisrael. tremendous assistance provided us by Hakadosh Baruch Hu has enabled us to develop in both the physical and spiritual realm. We have come Chag Atzmaut Sameach! The Laws of Shemitta of Land

.(which is ownerless. ( Rambam 4.24 ויקרא פרק כה א. וידבר ה' אל-משה, בהר סיני לאמור. ;The four prohibitive Mitzvot • ב. דבר אל-בני ישראל, ואמרת אליהם, כי תבואו אל הארץ, Sowing - Pruning the vine – Reaping – Harvesting אשר אני נותן לכם ושבתה הארץ, שבת לה'. .the vine ג. שש שנים תזרע שדך, ושש שנים תזמור כרמך; ואספת את תבואתה. According to the Torah the following types of work ד. ובשנה השביעית, שבת שבתון יהיה לארץ שבת, לה': :are prohibited during the year of Shemitta שדך לא תזרע, וכרמך לא תזמור. .("a) Sowing ("You shall not sow your field) ה. את ספיח קצירך לא תקצור, ואת עינבי נזיריך לא תבצור: .("b) Pruning (And you shall not prune your vineyards) שנת שבתון, יהיה לארץ. c) Reaping ("That which grows by itself (Sefiah) of) ו. והייתה שבת הארץ לכם, לאוכלה לך, ולעבדך ולאמתך; .("your harvest you shall not reap ולשכירך, ולתושבך הגרים עימך. d) Harvesting the vine (And the grapes of your) ז. ולבהמתך ולחיה, אשר בארצך: תהיה כל תבואתה, .(" undressed vines you shall not harvest לאכול. (e) Ploughing – There is an argument among the In the Shemitta of lands, according to Leviticus 25: Rabbis as to whether it is forbidden to the Torah or 1-7 we learn of: only according to the Rabbis (Derabanan) .

One positive Mitzva Additional Rabbinical enactments include: manuring, Four prohibitive Mitzvot hoeing, removing stones, etc. Another positive Mitzva One is allowed to do actions which are Derabanan which preserve the plants but not to do actions to A. The first positive commandment: develop the plants ("leukmay and not leavruyay"). "And the earth shall rest" For example: If a tree splits one may tie it up during the Seventh Year, not so as to make it grow more, but • The resting of the earth: only so that it should not become further damaged. Enumeration of the Mitzvot: That the earth should (Mishna Shevi'it, 4:6) rest in the Seventh Year from its work. (Rambam: The Laws in the Shemitta and Jubilee) • The Prohibition of Trading in produce of the Shemitta: • Relinquishing ownership or the Seventh Year: "To eat it" not for trade. (Avoda Zara, page 62): It is a positive commandment to release all that the One may not trade in the crops of the Seventh Year. soil produces in the Seventh Year, as it is written: "And he may sell them, and the money which he receives in the Seventh Year you shall release it and abandon becomes like the crops of the Seventh Year, and he it". And whoever locks up his vineyard or fences off may buy food with it and eat the food in the sanctity his field during the Seventh Year has abrogated a of the Seventh Year, while the crops that have been positive Mitzva, and similarly if he gathered all his sold remain sacred as they were. (Rambam 6:1). crops into his house. But he has to abandon it all as ownerless, and everyone will then have equal right • It is a positive Mitzva to eat from the crops of to it wherever it may be, as it is written: "And the the Seventh Year. needy of your people shall eat". Yet he may bring (An addition of the Ramban to Sefer Hamitzvot home small quantities, as one would take from that number three) B. The Sanctity of the Fruits • It is forbidden to destroy or to spoil Seventh Year crops ("to eat" – and not to destroy), so therefore it is All fruits of the tree which grow in the year of • forbidden to pluck them while they are unripe. Shemitta are permissible as food, but they are invested with the sanctity of the Seventh Year. • The money which one receives for Seventh Year produce has the sanctity of the Seventh Year on it, so The Rabbis decreed that the aftergrowths (Sefihim) • it is necessary to buy foodstuffs with it and eat them of the corn and of the vegetables that are sown, which by the time of the 'Removal' of the type of fruit that grow in the Seventh Year, are not permitted to be was sold (Biyur Sheviit).Similarly if a man exchanges eaten. some Seventh Year produce for some other food, then the food that he receives has on it the sanctity of the One does not gather up fruits that are sanctified • Seventh Year. with the sanctity of the Seventh Year as one would every other year, but harvests them little by little as the need arises, and then one brings them to one's C. Shemitta Today – A Torah Law or a house to eat. Rabbinic Ordinance? • Seventh Year produce is given – to whoever collects The Rambam writes: it and not just to the owner of the ground – for eating ("And the Sabbath of the land shall be for you" – for "The obligation to observe the Seventh Year and to all your needs – "to eat") and for drinking, and for separate the tithes only exists because of the conquest anointing, and for lighting candles, and for dyeing. of the land by the Jewish people. And since the land The Laws of Shemitta Land Laws The has been taken from them, the original conquest • Something which is usually eaten raw should not has lapsed, and the land is exempt according to the be eaten cooked, and something which is usually Torah (since the original sanctity has lapsed) from the eaten cooked should not be eaten raw, but everything obligation of separating tithes, and from the Seventh should be used with its usual and most efficient Year, since they no longer come from the land of usage. Israel.

• Produce which is suitable for man should not be And when Ezra came and sanctified it, he did not fed to cattle, but if cattle should of their own accord sanctify it by force of conquest but rather by the mere go under a tree and eat, one is not obliged to take fact of occupying it. And so therefore every place that them away from them. the returning exiles from Babylon occupied became holy with the second holiness brought about by Ezra, • Seventh Year Produce – since it is ownerless – is and it still remains holy to this day, even though the exempt from the separation of Terumah and tithes. As land was taken away from them, and so it is liable for crops which grow in the Seventh Year on land which to the Seventh Year and to the tithes, as we have has been released from the obligation of Shemitta by explained in the laws of Teruma." means of a sale to a non-Jew (Heter Mechira), Trumot (Beit Habechirah, end of Chapter 6). and Maasrot are taken without a Bracha. "From the time the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half • It is forbidden to take Seventh Year produce out of the tribe of Menashe went into exile, the Jubilees of Israel to other countries, and one may not trade in ceased to be in force, as it is written: "and you shall them ("for you to eat" and not for trade). proclaim freedom to ALL its inhabitants", at the time However, if he collected for his own need and there when ALL its inhabitants are in Eretz Yisrael and when was some left over, he is allowed to sell the remainder, the tribes are not mixed up with each other but all and the money will then possess the sanctity of the reside in their correct places… Seventh Year And when the Jubilee is not observed, none of these (the Hebrew slave, houses in walled towns, etc.) is • When one sells Seventh Year crops, one must not observed, except for the Seventh Year in the land of sell them by measure nor by weight, nor by number, Israel, and the Shemitta of money in all places – by but by estimation. Rabbinic ordination." (Rambam 10. 8-9) Practical Directions for the Shmitta Year (Adapted from directions given to current students) During the Shemitta year, we have the privilege to eat from the "holy" fruits of Eretz Israel Cut and Save especially considering that according to the Ramban it is a Mitzvah to eat produce of the Dates of when Fruit becomes Holy Shemitta year. We learned from Rav Kook that we should with Kedushat Shviit always consider the good of Klal Yisrael and not only our personal needs. This applies to fruit from Ozar Beit Din and not to Therefore the needs of Medinat Yisrael and produce from Heter Mechira. These types of fruit the agricultural community are our primary have all the laws of Kedushat Shviit and leftovers concern and our personal consumption needs are secondary. must be placed in the Shmitah Trash can.

Midreshet Harova recommends to use produce Fruit Dates from when new English of "Otzar Haaretz". fruit begins to have date from This Hechsher is based on the Beit Din of Rav Kedusha and when it when Ariel (Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan), no longer has Kedusha kedusha Rav Dov Leor, Rav Yehuda Amichai and Harav begins Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. Aug 08 18 י”ז אלול תשס”ח- י”ז אלול תשס”ט Almond May 08 23 י”ח אייר תשס”ח-י”ח אייר תשס”ט Order of preference of produce is as follows: Apple Produce (vegetables) grown and picked in the April 08 20 ט”ו ניסן תשס”ח-י’ אייר תשס”ט Apricot • sixth year. כ”ח תשרי תשס”ח-כ”ח תשרי תש”ע • Otzar Beit Din-produce grown in the sixth Carob 8 Sept 08 April 08 20 ט”ו ניסן תשסח-י’ סיון תשס”ט year, picked in the Shemitta year. Cherries May 08 25 כ’ אייר תשס”ח-כ’ אייר תשס”ט Matza Menutak (pot plants in a hot house) Fig • Aug 08 21 כ’ אב תשס”ח-כ’ אב תשס”ט From the Arava (which is also with Heter Fig • Mechira) Sept 08 1 א’ אלול תשסח-ט”ו חשוון תש”ע Grapefruit • Heter Mechira April 08 20 ט”ו ניסן תשס”ח-ט”ו ניסן תשס”ט Produce of Chutz Laaretz (but not Gaza or Grapes • Sept 08 13 י”ג אלול תשס”ח-י”ג אלול תשס”ט Jordan) Guava Sept 08 15 ט”ו אלול תשס”ח-ט”ו אלול תשס”ט After Pesach: Onions, potatoes, carrots either Kiwi from Europe or Heter Mechira. June 08 13 י’ סיון תשס”ח-י’ סיון תשס”ט Leachy Produce from Otzar Beit Din has Kedushat Shviit א’ אייר תשס”ח-א’ אייר תשס”ט is holy and has to be treated as such. Leftovers Lemon 6 May 08 Sept 08 1 א’ אלול תשס”ח-י’ אלול תשס”ט must be placed in the "PACH SHMITTA" – Mandarin Shmitta trashcan. Other produce does not have June 08 13 י’ סיון תשס”ח-י’ סיון תשס”ט Mango Kedushat Shviit. Feb 08 7 א’ אדר א’ תשס”ח-א’ אדר תשס”ח Nectarine /Peach Sept 08 13 י”ג אלול תשס”ח-י”ג אלול תשס”ט Where can I buy flowers? Olive Oct 08 27 ט”ו חשון תשס”ט-ט”ו חשון תש”ע If they are grown for their fragrance – then the Orange June 08 27 כ”ד סיון תשס”ח-כ”ד סיון תשס”ט laws of Kedushat Shviit apply. Therefore, only Pear buy at a shop with a Teudat Kashrut - Kashrut From a Letter Oct 08 27 ט”ו חשון תשס”ט-ט”ו a חשון תש”עcertificate saying that the flowers are grown Pecansreceived from Sept 08 15 ט”ו אלול תשס”ח-ט”ו אלול תשס”טaccording to Hilchot Shemitta. Persimmon Bogeret May 08 6 א’ אייר תשס”ח-א’ אייר תשס”ט Plum What do I do if I go to a family for Shabbat? Sept 08 12 י”ב אלול תשס”ח-י”ב אלול תשס”ט Pomegranate As we learned from Rav Shlomo Zalman Sept 08 1 א’ אלול תשס”ח-ט”ו חשוון תש”ע Auerbach zt"l we may eat at anyone who has Pomela Aug 08 2 א’ אב תשס”ח-א’ תמוז תשס”ט Yirat Shamayim and knows the laws of Kashrut. Sabres The same rule applies for the Shemitta year. A letter found written in a book donated anonymously to Midreshet Harova:

This book is donated to Midreshet Harova as a small token of appreciation from a student who has been here for a while, with sincere thanks to the Rabanim, Morot and Talmidot: for your spiritual influence and guidance, for the Torah that you have taught me, and for being paradigms of good middot and hatmada in character development and Limud Torah. Everything about the Midrasha has had a profound impact upon all aspects of my life – my thoughts, actions, feelings and more. Thank you for providing a Torah environment in Eretz Yisrael in which to grow and develop, dream and achieve amazing things. It is though your dedication and hard work that people succeed in the Midrasha.

Thank You From the bottom of my heart Midreshet Harova on the Web Announcements Midreshet Harova-tell usthegoodnews!! Please shareyour Simchas withMishpachet Fax: Tel: [email protected] Email www.harova.org Website A girltoRav Hillel Appelbaum-faculty A girltoRachel FleurPavlov (Taylor)-5760 A girltoOra Davidson (Maizels)-5758 A sonto Yehudit Tamir-faculty A girlto Yona Fish-faculty A girlto Talia Rapps(Fishman)-5764 of: On thebirth May you buildaBayit NeemanBeYisrael! Rav Chwats son of: On themarriage Dalia Cohen-5767 Jenn Cogan-5763 Vicki Lukacs-5765 Russie Taubes-5764 Ariella Kleinberg -5766 Malky Rosenthal-5762 Gabriella Grossman-5766 Amanda Alexander -5767 Mashi Jones-5762 On theengagementof: May hegrow to Torah,Yirat Shamayim andMaasimtovim! Rav MilstonontheBarmitzva ofhisson. Mazal Tov to Midreshet Harova mournstogether with Am Yisrael themurderof while learning Torat Eretz Yisrael. who died Al KiddushHashem 972-2-626-5999ext.970 at Yeshivat Mercaz Harav 972-2-6284690 eight young men Here wereproducetwo oftheentries. were placedfirstandthirdrespectively. Mazal Tov to Yaella Landau and Shira Aaron,who inaugural YU artcompetition. A dozen ofourstudentsrecentlyparticipatedinthr By Tzippy Rosenberg The BeitMidrash –Yakira Kirzner Editor: Rav David Berg