The Vision of Shevi’it

As we have learned (7:11-14), despite our steadily improving economic situation, since the total cost of refraining from work during Shevi’it is about ten billion shekels, the full range of halakhic considerations makes it necessary to use the heter mekhira (sale permit). In the long term, however, the strong economic situation of the State of Israel enables us to plan the path toward complete cessation of work in Shevi’it. An annual budget the size of the State of Israel’s can cope with the challenge of refraining from work in Shevi’it, provided that this is done gradually, with the cooperation of all sectors of society. For the state budget includes many items that have nothing to do with saving lives, and are intended to maintain a proper social life, in accordance with the will of the public and its representatives. And since they entered the budget gradually, in times of prosperity, efforts are made to maintain them even in times of hardship. Just as even in times of hardship the salaries of civil servants and teachers are hardly ever cut, since they have already become established, so too refraining from work in Shevi’it will become a benefit to which Israel’s farmers are entitled, and which is not harmed even in times of hardship.

Already today, the State of Israel grants a certain compensation to every farmer willing to refrain from work in Shevi’it. This compensation does not cover the full loss of income, but when one takes into account that the farmer gains a sabbatical year, the compensation may be worthwhile. In the previous Shevi’it, in 5768 (2007-8), the state spent about one hundred million shekels on Shevi’it matters, of which only fifteen million went to the approximately 360 farmers who wanted to refrain from work. Through a gradual process, the budget designated for those who refrain from work can be increased in a way that will encourage additional farmers to do so. In this way we will be able to advance gradually toward a complete cessation of work in the fields in Shevi’it, with all the grain, legumes, fruits, and vegetables we eat in the seventh year coming from crops gathered in previous years or from abroad.

Some argue that the State of Israel, surrounded by enemies, cannot afford to be dependent on a food supply from abroad. However, it seems that in principle this problem can be overcome, for already today, due to the high cost of water, we import most of our food from abroad, especially basic foods such as grain and legumes, while the farmers in Israel engage mainly in high-quality crops with large profits, most of which are exported abroad.

Some argue that if we stop exporting agricultural produce abroad during Shevi’it, we will lose markets and long-term contracts. However, it seems that this problem too has a solution, for if we manage to cope with forgoing ten billion shekels in Shevi’it, we will be able to invest another few hundred million to overcome the problem of marketing interrupted during Shevi’it.

This process will require continual examination of our security situation, so that we do not incur risk by increasing our dependence on food imports in the seventh year. It will likewise be necessary to monitor the state of our agricultural exports, so that stopping exports in Shevi’it does not cause the loss of markets for the years following Shevi’it. And presumably it will be necessary at first to encourage refraining from work in those branches where the damage will be limited.