We Wish The Detroit Jewish Community A Healthy, Happy New Year! The Staff Of Lexus Of Lansing ther they nor their livestock could eat food grown during the shmitah year. They could, however, main- tain animals, col- lect milk and other animal products and keep their farms in repair for the following season. "If certain grow things the without farmer doing anything," Rab- bi Borchard says, "it does not belong to the farmer. The money goes to the Rabbinical Court, which dis- tributes it during The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection the seventh For a personal showing: year." During the six Call 1-800-539-8748 OR 1-800-LEXUS-4-U years, he adds, A new vineyard in Israel. Exit 104 off 1-96 • 5709 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing • 517/394-8000 (CALL COLLECT) farmers can pre- pare for the seventh by stocking shmitah being graded higher up food and money for them- than that of nearby, non-observ- ing farms. selves and their animals. The sages reasoned that fail- The goal for Keren Hashvi'is is to raise $10 million throughout ure to observe shmitah laws the seven-year cycle, but Rabbi caused the exile of Jews from the and her husband Borchard says if it gets half that, Land of Israel. For nearly 1,800 he's pleased. The organization years afterward, the law, which turns over those donations to the applies only to farmland in Israel, court. Together, donations and wasn't observed, because the other collected money forms the small Jewish community living basis for the sabbatical stipends. there until this century did not As with other causes, much of farm. Large-scale immigration in the the funds come from outside Is- rael. The Detroit Committee, late 1800s brought Jewish farm- which sponsored a fund-raiser for ing, and with it, Torah-based en- Keren Hasvhi'is on Wednesday, vironmental conservation. The encourages its members to speak Zionist dream of returning Jews about it from their pulpits. Sister to Palestine meant more than committees elsewhere are doing just bringing them back to the land; it also meant renewing their the same. "Rabbonim in the Diaspora relationship with the earth. Only a handful of Jewish farm- have always gathered together different energies and resources ers observed shmitah in those to help farmers in Israel," said early years. Before the birth of Is- Rabbi Mordechai Wolmark, a De- rael, Rabbi Binyomin Mendelson troit committee member. 'There reintroduced the law to members are programs like this across the of his collective farm community, country, like Los Angeles, Chica- Moshav Komemius. Those farm- go and Cleveland. It's almost tra- ers became experts, and began ditional for these cities to do these consulting others outside the moshav in the intricate laws. kinds of events." By 1952, Rabbi Mendelson In the months before each shmitah year, the organization founded Keren Hashvi'is as the asks these farmers to fill out official entity coordinating and questionnaires, detailing their fi- promoting shmitah observance. nancial needs and how much of Now, the organization offers lec- their livelihoods depend on agri- tures, raises funds and arranges culture. It then sends supervi- activities related to learning and sors, farmers who have become observing shmitah. 670 S. Woodward Rabbi Borchard says, "Some- experts in shmitah laws, for as- Downtown Birmingham thing very special happens. When sistance. 644-7311 Observant farmers report ben- the land rests, the next year pro- On The Boardwalk efits and miracles resulting from duces much better. I don't know following shmitah. They tell sto- if it's because the land rested or ries of rain falling only on shmi- if God did it." 111 Next time you feed your face, think about your heart. tah-observing farms and not on For information about con- Go easy on your heart and start cutting back on foods that are high in saturated neighboring ones, farms produc- tributing to Keren liashvi'is, call fat and cholesterol. The change'll do you good. ing triple in the sixth year what Rabbi Wolmark at (810) 424- they did during the previous five, 8880. WERE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE V American Heart Association 44* and produce of the year after LEXUS OF LANSING Audrey Pearl Cy Feldman Wish All Their Friends and Clients A Very Healthy and Happy T H E D E T RO IT J E WI S H N E WS New Year 10 SEVENTH YEAR page 19 HAPPY NEW YEAR To An Our Friends and Customers MARGUERITE 932-5252 Vista all our friends and customers a 2-lappy 2Very ear!