Shabbat Parashat Vayakhel 5785

Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part I

Recipient and Background: Rav Yaakov David Wilovsky (Ridbaz), a leading rabbi who moved to Eretz Yisrael and was known, among other things, as a strong opponent of leniencies on Shemitta.

Body: I just received my good friend’s letter. I am very surprised that you assume my words have false intentions. Why would anyone think I would force those who do not agree with the lenient [Shemitta] ruling to eat what is forbidden according to their opinion? My intention is only to stand in the breach against those who cast aspersions on those who come to settle Eretz Yisrael and have no choice but to rely on the well-known leniency, which has a basis in the Talmud and poskim. These aspersions damage the Yishuv spiritually and physically.

The physical damage is that it is impossible for everyone to keep the laws of Shemitta without uprooting it [through sale]. If they will not export the produce, e.g., wine, oranges, almonds, the land will be truly desolate. This will ruin the New Yishuv and, with it, certainly the Old Yishuv, as one who looks with open eyes sees that the two are intertwined.

The spiritual danger is that if a prohibition would be publicized, it would, for completely religious Jews, close the door to coming to Eretz Yisrael to build it through planting, sowing, and agricultural commerce. Then only those who throw religion out behind them will come [for these purposes], thereby causing an immeasurable drop in Judaism in Eretz Yisrael. Now, although irreligious Jews also come, every moshava has Jews who are connected to Torah and fear of Hashem. They hold important positions in their communities and strengthen religious institutions, e.g., kashrut. I have received letters, as expected, saying that no rich person, even if G-d-fearing, will invest in Eretz Yisrael at this time, when we do not see miracles, if Shemitta will uproot the foundations of his finances.

[The second spiritual damage (which we have seen before) is that if the rabbis are stringent and religious people feel compelled to ignore them, it pushes them toward generally not listening to rabbis.] Therefore, anyone who can predict the future and wants to serve Hashem not with pipe dreams but with clear, calculated logic (as proper for one whom Hashem gave mental capacity), will conclude that we must be careful to not lose the leniency of selling the land. This has been practiced for three Shemitta years, and the leading rabbis of the time in Eretz Yisrael did not protest it in practice. It has justifications in Halacha, as everyone with straight intellect will admit. Why should you be surprised that I come out against anyone who calls many of our fellow Jewish brethren evil people and thereby cause spiritual and physical destruction to the Land of our Fathers? On the other hand, who would fight against individuals who want to be stringent on themselves (certainly, it is not my intention)!?

[Rav Kook now responds to the Ridbaz’s apparent claim that certain medical tragedies were due to the Shemitta leniency.] I do not think there is a bigger sin than baseless hatred, which we are unfortunately experiencing broadly. This evil inclination has especially found a place among G-d fearers and Torah scholars, especially in Eretz Yisrael. This is because the element of destruction strengthens according to the extent of sanctity. Our generation must exert itself to increase peace, love, and brotherhood in the Jewish world. We must increase respect for Torah scholars who are people of truth who serve Hashem with all their hearts, who don’t care about money and honor, but the honor of Hashem and the Jewish People and their welfare. I am certain that if we adopt this holy approach, Hashem will remove disease from His nation and Land and decree His blessing in all we do; the Land’s Jewish community will go ever higher. The more our brethren, of our holy nation, will settle in the Desired Land, the more we will be able to increase observance of Shemitta. Fewer will have to export; rather all will eat produce of the Land with the sanctity of Shemitta, to the joy of G-d fearers.

It is not at all the Torah’s way to enhance observance based on fear of punishment. We must determine from Torah sources if there is room for leniency in a case of need. If leniency is correct, we should not connect punishments to the leniency, as His Torah is not a fake. We should inspect different actions and attributes that are prone to mistakes, as the great righteous people have done over the generations.

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