Some quick notes ...

Joni again. In approximately 24 hours, we'll be boarding our airplane. We still have yet to pack.

Some may not have been aware, but since last Monday, I've been pretty sick. I happen to be in bed right now, still with my cold. This is my last ditch effort to get better before we fly.

Since I have nothing better to do right now other than try and nap, I thought it might be nice to share a few quick notes on some interesting halachos that we need to recognize for this trip. Many might already be aware that this year, 5768, is a shmitta year. Shmitta, or otherwise known as the "sabbatical year," is the time in which farmers in Israel are required by Jewish law to keep shemitah, letting their fields lie fallow for a full year, once every seven year. This is a Mitzvah (or commandment) directly from the Torah.

Shmitta starts on the 1st day of the month of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah of the seventh year of a seven year cycle). Likewise, it terminates with the entry of 1st of Tishrei the following Rosh Hashanah.

Naturally, if you're going to Israel, this makes produce shopping a little more difficult. If you live there, it's a similar story but on a much larger scale.

I borrowed a book from the Torah High Library in order to help us in our travel and to gain a better understanding of these halachos. The book is called "Gateway to Shmittah" by Rabbi Dovid Marchant. It is incredibly helpful thus far. Real eye-opener. I'd love to share with everyone some very interesting information from it. :)

For example, the fact that ALL Jews are affected by the shmitta year, both in Israel and diaspora. In some way, you are effected and need to be aware of it!

If you live in Israel, certain agricultural activities are prohibited. This ban then applies to ALL parts of the Land and it affects the large Israeli farms that produce fruits and vegetables for the consumer. Israeli homes are effected even in personal gardens!

The very fruits grown in Israel are imbued with a special kedushah at a particular time during shmitta. The Torah dictates that they must be treated in a certain prescribed manner unlike the fruits that the Land produces in other years. According to various poskim, this also applies even to flowers! Vegetables grown in Jewish owned land may be forbidden for consumption depending on their time of growth.

If you observe the halachos of kashrus, you will inevitably have to observe the halachos of shmitta. Even if someone living in Israel were not to eat any fresh fruits grown in Israel during shmitta, they might consume other products made in Israel that may contain fruit or vegetable products. Even cotton is affected!

So as you can see, we're going to have a rather interesting time when it comes to food in Israel and other things. I personally am very excited to be given such an amazing opportunity to fulfill something so huge!

More on shmitta later. Napping for now. :)