Lichvod Harabbonim, biz 120,
It is not my place to address the Gedolei Torah in words of Torah. I am a woman and my primary responsibilities over the past fourteen years have been family and household related. Before that, I did some computer programming and word processing. However, I ask you to please spend a few minutes of your precious time to read through this article. There are times when the emes is hidden in unexpected places. It is a way of fooling the satan. Is it possible that a layperson such as myself, especially a woman, has words of Torah to address to the Gedolei Hador of this generation? It does say that Torah was first given in generalities to women and then with details and halachos to the men. Therefore, it is conceivable that perhaps there is significance and something new to what I have to offer.
I pray to Hashem that the emes in these words will be recognized as being emes from Hashem and His Holy Torah. I am simply the vehicle through which these words are delivered. I do not chas veshalom wish to, in any way, denigrate the role of rabbanim and Torah shebe?al peh. Torah and Halacha is what makes a marriage. It is the Torah shebichtav that I am addressing. The Halacha is left to you.
The purpose of this letter is to talk about Shmitta. We have been told that 70 years of the Churban correspond with 70 years of not keeping Shmitta properly. Why bring it up now? I believe with my heart and soul that if we would keep Shmitta as the Torah specified, it is the key to Moshiach. I believe that the recent events on Shabbos Kodesh, when the Columbia space shuttle disintegrating over Palestine, Texas, with seven crew members on board, as well as a Sefer Torah is not coincidental. It is Hashem's way of warning us and foreshadowing future events if we don't keep the Torah.
It made us proud as Jews to see the Torah up in space. If we think about it however, the Torah is not meant for space - Lo bashamayim hi. Shabbos can not be kept properly in space. Neither can the mitzvot teluyot baaretz.
You may argue that Jews in Eretz Yisroel are keeping Shmitta. They are keeping it with Takanot Rabbanim of Pruzbul and Heter Mechira.
As a single girl, in search of the truth of Torah, I tried to understand what the Torah expected of us. How can I loan my money to someone in need and not expect to get it back? There are things that I too need. Do I dare ask for a loan, knowing that I don't have to pay it back? Of course I would, if I could. Who wouldn't? What I realized was that this kind of economy was similar to Socialism. Here I was, a simple girl merely trying to keep the mitzvah, which resulted in trying to live with a breakdown of the economic system I was familiar with and treasured.
I realized then that I was onto something revolutionary. Does Hashem want us to live in a capitalist society for six years and a socialist society for the Shmitta year? It was so new and scary.
That was Shmitta year 5747, when I was living in Kiryat Arba. That Shmitta year was an experiment for me. I was in no way trying to dictate the right way to live, but simply trying to adhere to the laws of the Torah. Why not make life easy and adhere to Pruzbul? Pruzbul was a product of the Galus. It was because our emunah was weak that Pruzbul was instituted. With childlike emunah, we need to believe and follow Hashem's word. We will see the blessings for sure. Even though I personally do not have proof of material blessings from that year, I am patient. I have gained in wisdom and emunah and love of Hashem and His Torah, as well as our role and mission as Am Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel.
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In Shmitta year 5747, Robin (Stern) Ticker, a single girl at the time, acted upon simple faith and attempted to understand and experience the Shmitta portions of the Torah, and she took a year Sabbatical, loaned out her money and attempted to live without really knowing where her food would be coming from. She can be reached at faigerayzel@aol.com.
It is not my place to address the Gedolei Torah in words of Torah. I am a woman and my primary responsibilities over the past fourteen years have been family and household related. Before that, I did some computer programming and word processing. However, I ask you to please spend a few minutes of your precious time to read through this article. There are times when the emes is hidden in unexpected places. It is a way of fooling the satan. Is it possible that a layperson such as myself, especially a woman, has words of Torah to address to the Gedolei Hador of this generation? It does say that Torah was first given in generalities to women and then with details and halachos to the men. Therefore, it is conceivable that perhaps there is significance and something new to what I have to offer.
I pray to Hashem that the emes in these words will be recognized as being emes from Hashem and His Holy Torah. I am simply the vehicle through which these words are delivered. I do not chas veshalom wish to, in any way, denigrate the role of rabbanim and Torah shebe?al peh. Torah and Halacha is what makes a marriage. It is the Torah shebichtav that I am addressing. The Halacha is left to you.
The purpose of this letter is to talk about Shmitta. We have been told that 70 years of the Churban correspond with 70 years of not keeping Shmitta properly. Why bring it up now? I believe with my heart and soul that if we would keep Shmitta as the Torah specified, it is the key to Moshiach. I believe that the recent events on Shabbos Kodesh, when the Columbia space shuttle disintegrating over Palestine, Texas, with seven crew members on board, as well as a Sefer Torah is not coincidental. It is Hashem's way of warning us and foreshadowing future events if we don't keep the Torah.
It made us proud as Jews to see the Torah up in space. If we think about it however, the Torah is not meant for space - Lo bashamayim hi. Shabbos can not be kept properly in space. Neither can the mitzvot teluyot baaretz.
You may argue that Jews in Eretz Yisroel are keeping Shmitta. They are keeping it with Takanot Rabbanim of Pruzbul and Heter Mechira.
As a single girl, in search of the truth of Torah, I tried to understand what the Torah expected of us. How can I loan my money to someone in need and not expect to get it back? There are things that I too need. Do I dare ask for a loan, knowing that I don't have to pay it back? Of course I would, if I could. Who wouldn't? What I realized was that this kind of economy was similar to Socialism. Here I was, a simple girl merely trying to keep the mitzvah, which resulted in trying to live with a breakdown of the economic system I was familiar with and treasured.
I realized then that I was onto something revolutionary. Does Hashem want us to live in a capitalist society for six years and a socialist society for the Shmitta year? It was so new and scary.
That was Shmitta year 5747, when I was living in Kiryat Arba. That Shmitta year was an experiment for me. I was in no way trying to dictate the right way to live, but simply trying to adhere to the laws of the Torah. Why not make life easy and adhere to Pruzbul? Pruzbul was a product of the Galus. It was because our emunah was weak that Pruzbul was instituted. With childlike emunah, we need to believe and follow Hashem's word. We will see the blessings for sure. Even though I personally do not have proof of material blessings from that year, I am patient. I have gained in wisdom and emunah and love of Hashem and His Torah, as well as our role and mission as Am Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel.
--------------------------------------------------------
In Shmitta year 5747, Robin (Stern) Ticker, a single girl at the time, acted upon simple faith and attempted to understand and experience the Shmitta portions of the Torah, and she took a year Sabbatical, loaned out her money and attempted to live without really knowing where her food would be coming from. She can be reached at faigerayzel@aol.com.