Shmitta 5782 Berry Picking at Bikurei Shilo

Moriah Rapaport Shapiro is seen here talking
to our group about Shmitta and the story of the 
picking farm Bikurei Shilo.

Shmitta, The Sabbatical of the Land comes every seven years, parallel or similar to our Holy Shabbat Sabbath which is every seven days. The big difference is that while Shabbat is required for all Jews in all parts of the world, and even universe, shmitta is only for those fruits and vegetables grown in the Land of Israel on Jewish owned Land.

During our two thousand years of exile, when Jews weren't working or owning the Land, shmitta became an unobserved and unknown mitzvah, even more so than the Mitzvot only observed in the Holy Temple. 

Shmitta only became relevant again when Zionist pioneers began farming in the Land of Israel. Rabbis, Jewish landowners and farmers-- many who weren't Torah observant have been struggling for well over a century to find ways to faithfully observe the mitzvah without damaging the economy. A few years ago, I reviewed a fascinating book about how the pioneers of Mazkeret Batya struggled for the rights to strictly observe shmitta, Rebels in the Holy Land, The Story of Mazkeret Batya.

Before we were allowed to pick the fruit, blueberries and raspberries, Moriah explained to us the history of the "farm" and psak, Torah decisions it's basing its shmitta practice. The fruit which is now ripening is the holy seventh 7th year fruit, so it can be eaten but not wasted. Any which must be thrown out is put in special receptacles, which they will handle later.

After the talk, we were each given a small container and set off to pick the fruit. The blueberries are delicious, a real treat. We got a lot of exercising while picking, since the ripe ones were low down on the bushes. There were very few raspberries ripe for the picking when we were there. Later in the season there will also be blackberries, Gd willing.

For more information on when to visit, open Sunday-Friday except for Jewish holidays, contact 0527966630. Bikurei Shilo is at the western side of the Shilo Junction and can be reached by car or bus. Individuals, families and groups are welcome. Their facebook page is in Hebrew, but you can message them in English. 

You can arrange tours and shmitta explanations in Hebrew and/or English for families and groups. Other activities are "tractoron" tours among the vineyards, bows & arrows, blow up playground activities, pitta baking, arts & crafts and more. Give them a call.

Besides the picking fruit, they sell all sorts of snacks including an "ice pop" made of their own fruit, which is absolutely delicious. There's also a playground for children.

We had a wonderful time, highly recommended for all ages.

Where do You Light Your Chanukiya, Chanuka Menorah?

The light of our Chanukiya, Chanuka Menorah, is supposed to be a sign to the world that we, the small Jewish People, cannot be defeated by big, strong armies. It's not supposed to be a light that physically illuminates. The Light of the Chanukiya, Chanuka Menorah is not to be used for any practical purpose, like reading or navigating and certainly not to light up a room.

We've always set up our chanukiyot on window sills facing the main street. Since our custom has always been that everyone old enough to have some understanding of the mitzvah should light their very own chanukiya, there have been years when both our meter plus window sills were full of chanukiyot.

Nowadays, there are rarely more than just the two of us rattling around this empty nest. Our big family Chanuka celebrations are generally at the kids.

Many of our neighbors light their chanukiyot outside, by their doors or right on the sidewalk. The mitzvah of פרסום הנס pirsum haness, publicizing the miracle, is taken very seriously.

What are your family and community chanukiya-lighting customs?

S'firat Ha'Omer, Counting of the Omer Tip

There's a long-running mitzvah that begins every year the second night of Passover, S'firat Ha'Omer, Counting of the Omer. We begin to count up to the Shavuot, Giving of the Torah. It's sort of like a "countdown," but we count up until 49, yes, seven weeks.

I must admit that this mitzvah was one of the hardest for me to succeed in accomplishing. It took me decades to manage to count every single night until I made it to forty-nine, 49. I'd usually forget pretty early on. It started getting easier when I got a cellphone and was set up with a reminder service. Nowadays there are lots of email and cellphone apps and services you can sign up for. And they usually automatically consider you signed up each year without having to sign up again. But even that wasn't perfect, since my phone and computer are off on Friday Night, the Eve of the Sabbath plus the last night of Passover.

Then, finally, I came up with a homemade low-tech solution. I started posting a sign on the closet just across from where I sit while my husband is in shul, synagogue on Friday night. This helps me remember, thank Gd. I already have the sign up and waiting for this coming Thursday and Friday nights, the last night of Pesach and Leil Shabbat. Gd willing I will notice it on time to make the blessings.

Aliyah: Not The "Ultimate Sacrifice"

Not long ago I heard a speaker say something that I found so outrageous, sacrilegious, 'חילול ד chillul Hashem, disparaging of Gd and the Land of Israel, that I searched him out afterwards to tell him how upset he had gotten me. He had called Aliyah "The Ultimate Sacrifice."

Of course I understand that Aliyah, the move to Israel is sometimes more difficult for others as it was for me, but to call it The "Ultimate Sacrifice" puts a value on living outside of Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel over living here that has no place in Judaism or reality.

Of course there are adjustments one must make in any move, whether from Brooklyn to Monsey or Monsey to Jerusalem. Most people find any change traumatic, especially when the decision is made by someone else. And sometimes parents don't "market it well" for their kids or find the right educational framework. In any move, parents must be sensitive to their children's needs and advocate for them. I'm still upset with my parents' oblivion to my suffering when we moved from Bayside, NYC, NY to Great Neck, NY. Even though the physical distance was just a few miles, the educational system was totally different. I was put back a grade, and my parents hadn't a clue or didn't care. Maybe it was the parenting style of that time, but nobody, neither parents nor school guidance counselors, ever spoke to me about it.

Moving to Israel, making Aliyah, is totally different from any other move. First of all, Gd commanded us to live in Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. Many of the mitzvot, Torah commandments can only be done here. Besides that, there are government offices and Nefesh B'Nefesh which are dedicated to facilitating the absorption, adjustment, of olim chadashim, newcomers to Israel.

Unlike when my husband and I made aliyah, came here in 1970, Israel is on the same if not higher technological, standard of living as any place else in the world. Today's Israel also has one of the world's strongest economies.

Every move demands change and adjustment. But if you are angry about the decision that had been made for you, learning to see the good and adjusting will be near impossible.

Israel is a wonderful, beautiful country, full of goodness, miracles and chessed. To me it's a sacrifice living any place else.

Before one of my sons went into the IDF he was in a program which had a very good fitness trainer who always said:

הכל בראש
Hakol barosh.
"It's all in your head."

The meaning is that you actually can control your feelings and capabilities. If you look at Aliyah as  The "Ultimate Sacrifice," then you will always feel victimized by it, rather than a privileged beneficiary of living here in Gd's HolyLand.

What's a Good Jew? Mishpatim, G-d's Commandments, The Laws, Parshat Shavua

This week's Torah Portion of the Week, Parshat Shavua gives us a rundown on some of the many, many -613- Mitzvot G-d commanded us to obey.

Too many people, like most of us, somehow lose focus on the big picture and concentrate on just a few of the mitzvot, sort of picking and choosing our battles with the Yetzer Haraa the evil inclination, or picking the mitzvot that seem the easiest or the most fun.

There are those who make a super fuss over only eating the strictest of kashrut supervisions and restrictions, but they are must less stringent about what comes out of their mouths, the words they say to others.

Others are careful about Shabbat, but not about their business practices.

And then there are those who say we must be careful about not looking at the opposite sex, so careful that they don't assist when needed.

And there are those who say they just must be good people, nice to others but don't see why they should serve kosher food to those who keep kashrut, or make events on days other than Shabbat or Jewish Holiday.

There are those who run to help all sorts of people in trouble, but don't run to help their fellow Jews especially Jews in Israel.

Our job is to obey all the mitzvot, all categories.  It's not easy.  If we concentrate on one aspect and ignore another it's not good, not at all.

Let's all try to improve.

Simchat Torah, Memories

Here in Israel, we've just finished the marathon of Jewish Holidays which begins the Jewish Year.  A couple of hours ago, this year's Simchat Torah, Being Joyful in the Torah ended.  Whew!  I'm just catching my breath before getting read for Shabbat, which begins in less than twenty-four 24 hours.  Outside of Israel, Torah observant Jews are only now celebrating Simchat Torah. They won't have a break.  Holidays are a bit different there, but that would be the topic for another post, if at all. I'm not a real expert in it, so no promises.


Eretz Israel Museum

I have very limited memories of Simchat Torah from my "pre-frum" (before I became religious) days. No doubt they taught us something in the Oakland Jewish Center, Bayside, NY, (Conservative) Hebrew School.  I went to "services" at least once and have memories of dancing around with special flags and being given a "jelly apple" to eat.  I have no idea why we got the apples, but they are as distinct in my memory as the flags we were waving while singing and marching/dancing.

The next very distinct memory of Simchat Torah was when I was becoming religious and attended services, as the prayers are called in America, at the Great Neck Synagogue.  I remember it as joyous and that the men were extra "joyous" due to the shot glasses of schnapps that they were polishing off.  If I'm not mistaken we danced with the Sifrei Torah in the street, or am I imagining it?  I don't remember if women received one to hold.  Possibly the following year, NCSY arranged for our region to be in Boro Park, Brooklyn for the holiday.  As usual we danced during the meals, but I don't remember much about the synagogue we attended. 

My first Simchat Torah in Israel was before I was married.  I as here as a student, and my friend and I went wandering around Meah She'arim looking to see the dancing.  I remember being disappointed.  It wasn't as large as I had expected, at least where women could view it.  The Hakafot Sh'niyot, Second night, which actually was after the holiday was great fun.  It's a very popular Israeli custom to celebrate Simchat Torah when it's over, but then one is permitted to use live bands.

I had no idea there was a custom to have all of the children gather under a Tallit (or as many as needed to cover) to be blessed.  I just don't remember seeing it until I was a mother, and my husband would take the children.  It's a gorgeous sight to behold from the Ezrat Nashim, Women's Section when we're sitting high up on a balcony.  This year things were a bit different; I guess it's a new custom.  Apparently parents were informed that there wouldn't be enough room for all of the kids, so little girls over the age of five were to be excluded.  Or this could have been the custom from the neighborhood shul that joined with us for the dovening/prayers.  As a response, the young mothers showed up with a collection of large tallitot and made a canopy for the little girls upstairs.  I have no idea if this custom will continue.

A real local, neighborhood custom is for young girls, youth, women to go to homes of those unable to make it to the synagogue and sing and dance for them.  It's enjoyed by both the "entertainers" and those being "entertained."  That's the joy of Simchat Torah, the mitzvah of being good to others and making including them in the holiday.

Shabbat Shalom!  Yes, it's soon.

After Yom Kippur, Time for The Next Mitzvah

There's a custom to start building sukkot immediately after Yom Kippur. Since our "slates" have been wiped clean of sins, we want to fill up our account with Mitzvot.  That's why many people rush out after breaking the Yom Kippur fast and start getting their sukkot ready.

One thing I've been noticing is that people are starting to build sukkot earlier and earlier every year.  And the businesses selling supplies for building and decorating sukkot open earlier, too.

These are pictures I took last week in Jerusalem.  It seems to be that people are looking at post-Rosh Hashannah for the time to work on their sukkot.

 

The enthusiasm to fulfill the Mitzvot is very encouraging.

Chag Sameach! Shannah Tovah!

Have a Joyous Holiday and Wonderful Year!

Seeing IDF Service as a Mitzvah

There are many Torah observant Jews (aka Orthodox Jews) who consider Israel army service to be a great mitzvah, Torah commandment.  I'm one of them.  The State of Israel with all its many imperfections is Jewish, as Jewish as a country can be in today's world, and it is up to every single one of us to do our best to protect it.

For those who can serve in the army, that is the greatest mitzvah, because one is risking his life and future for the Jewish People.

Hat tip: Life in Israel for the story of the Chabadnik who is going for the Israeli Air Force.  When my daughters' friends were trying out for and some getting accepted into the Air Force it was considered revolutionary that a dati leumi, national religious with kippa s'ruga, crocheted kippah would be in the Air Force.  By the time my sons' friends tried out, it was not news, but when one friend married a religious girl who was also in the Air Force that was special.

Many people like to complain about the difficulties of serving in the IDF for the religious, but like with every sort of position and all sorts of "marketing," the more people who take it on, the easier it will be.

I'm also seeing, at least here in Shiloh, more and more young religious women serving in the IDF and not just as teachers.  Those who want to volunteer in educational positions still do Sherut Le'umi, National Service.  But today quite a few young women are going into fields mostly occupied by men, because they feel the need to serve on a higher level.

It's too bad that the government is going on an aggressive track trying to rush the chareidi draft to the army.  There are also too many lies, especially from the chareidi side which distort facts. One of them is that the dati Le'umi are only asked to serve seventeen months while they are being forced to serve three years.  The seventeen months is the time of active service for hesder yeshivot out of their five year program.  Let the chareidi also establish or join hesder yeshivot and commit to a five year program of which all of the post army part makes the students "first call" in an emergency.

Starting with a Mitzvah!

It's customary to get started with a Mitzvah after Yom Kippur, when we've prayed to G-d to wipe our slates clean and forgive us for all of our sins. So after eating, I took a walk around my Shiloh neighborhood, armed with my trusty Canon 620.

Lots of people had gotten started building their succot,

or had at least brought the equipment to the house.

That's the way to start the year, with Mitzvot, yes, plenty to think about, I'd say.