As we near the beginning of Shmitah 5782, Keren Hashviis is preparing for the largest shmitah campaign to date. To kick off the Lakewood Shviis campaign, Keren hashviis held a fundraising event last week. The event was hosted by the Lakewood campaign committee chairmen, R’ Moshe Tress, R’ Reuven Wolf, and R’ Menashe Frankel.

As Covid decimated the travel and leisure industry with the closing of hotels and restaurants, many farmers were hurt by cancellation of huge accounts from suppliers who no longer needed their produce. The farmers are still reeling from the effects, as they are moser nefesh to head into another year of financial difficulty.

Keren Hashviis will enable over 4000 farmers to keep Shmitah by providing outreach, teaching, support, and subsidies to the many shomer shviis farmers.

This fundraiser comes at a crucial time for Keren Hashviis. KH is currently raising funds to enable 400 farmers who are “on the fence,” unsure if they will be able to keep Shmitta, to make the commitment to do so. The Lakewood askanim understood the urgency of the cause, and spearheaded the evening to ensure that the Kedushas Ha’aretz remains.

The event was moderated by R’ Dovid Aryeh Stern and addressed by noted philanthropist R’ Refoel Hertzka, himself a “Shviis Partner” of Moshav Sha’alavim, who explained why he chose to sponsor a Yishuv of Shomrei Shviis farmers, and the bracha that comes as a result. The event was well attended by many noted Lakewood Askonim and philanthropists. A special guest from Eretz Yisroel, Avichai Koch, a shomer shviis farmer from Moshav Tekuma in the Gaza border attended, and gave an inspiring presentation detailing the mesiras nefesh of the many Shmitta observing farmers.

This fundraiser kicks off many fundraisers to be held around Lakewood in the coming months.