One of the fundamentals of Bitachon comes from keeping Shemitta.
Today, we have the zechut to welcome back our guest, Avichai Kach, one of Gibborei Koach who keeps Shemitta, who shared the following Bitachon story:
Last Shemitta, three weeks before it was over on Rosh Hashanah, I entered my greenhouse and saw all the weeds that had come up, all the plastic covers flying in the wind, and I thought to myself, “In three weeks Shemitta will be over. How am I going to recover my green houses and get back to work? How am I going to get rid of all the weeds, fix all the covers, and make everything ready for planting?“
It would cost about 100,000 shekels, which I did not have. I couldn’t sleep at night from these thoughts- what would I do?
Then, one morning, I got a phone call from someone who used to be one of my customers, who had a big delivery local service delivering organic fruits and vegetables to people’s homes. He called to ask me what my plans were for the next season, because he heard that I was getting back to work. I told him that yes, I was planning to get back to work but that I wasn’t sure yet how I would be able to do it. I needed to put so much money in, that I didn’t have at that point, and I didn’t know what would happen. He told me he had an offer for me. He said he was expanding his business. His customer base was growing and he needed more produce but he did not have enough fields. He wanted my greenhouses in order to grow organic vegetables. He would give me a list and the volumes that he need each week, and he would buy it from me. He also offered to send his brother to work for me, so I could teach him how to grow organic vegetables. He told me not to worry, that he would fix the greenhouses, repair the plastic covers, pay for the workers, pay for the everything. He just wanted me to use my expertise to grow the best organic vegetables that I could for his business. I thought to myself, “What is the possibility that something like this could happen to me?” I had been a farmer for more than six years (before that Shemitta) and I never had such an experience. Nobody ever called me and offered to take care of all of my expenses and make sure that I’m making money.
So I started to work with this man, and his brother came to work for me. Two years later, his brother opens his own farm, a 30 minute drive from where I live. He set up all his greenhouses and fields, but he kept working for me until this Shemitta. Three years ago, I asked him what the point of this waa. He had his own fields and greenhouses. Why did he need to work with me? He told me, “On your farm there is beracha that I never found on my farm.“ This is something about Shemitta.”
In order to truly experience this, you have to meet these great people. I had the zechut to sit in front Avi, and his wife as well.
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky has said that during the year of Shemitta, you should go to Shemitta farmers or their wives and get berachot.
These great people bless people and things come true. So if you have the opportunity before the end of the year, either find them in America or travel to Eretz Yisrael.
KerenHaShviis is a wonderful organization that helps the Shemitta farmers. This year, 51% of the farmers are keeping Shemitta because of KerenHaShviis. Although they don’t cover all of their expenses, they help them keep their heads above water, and the missing 60% of their income, is based on the
Emuna and Bitachon of these great people.
Avichai’s wife is extremely humble. We sat and twisted her arm to offer her services, and she finally acceded. She offered her email address, kerrenk@gmail.com
She is willing and able to share her berachot.
I know of another Shemitta farmer, whose wife spends over two hours at Hadlakat Nerot praying for people, and many of the berachot were fulfilled.
Hashem sends them beracha. And we can connect to these great people.
If you’d like to help Kerenhashviis, go to:
http://www.Kerenhashviis.org
This is not an appeal, we are just giving you a zechut to have a part of this great beracha.
Have a wonderful day.