There are fears that mounting tensions between Israel and Jordan surrounding Har Habayis will have a negative impact on shmitah as badatz hechsherim are operating in Jordan to supply the tzibur with produce that is from outside of Eretz Yisrael. For those not relying on heter mechira or otzar beis din, they must purchase produce that has no kedushas shvi’is. Some items, such as carrots, potatoes and onions are still from the sixth year but as shmitah year moves forward, more and more produce will have to come from areas not halachically Eretz Yisrael and from abroad. Some produce will also come from PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous areas as is the case the other six years as Tnuva buys PA produce as well.

Just this week Jordan has summoned its ambassador to Israel to Amman for consultations as King Abdullah continues to express concerns and anger over a growing Jewish presence on Har Habayis. It appears that an incident this week in which border police were compelled to enter al-Aqsa Mosque with their boots on angered the king, for the act was unprecedented. Officials in Israel explain the level of escalating violence compelled their actions.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu continues to release statements that the religious status quo on Har Habayis remains the same but the king prefers to capitalize on the situation and use Har Habayis to turn the international community against Israel.

Officials in the Badatz Eida Chareidis and Sheiris Yisrael are monitoring the situation carefully, well-aware a further deterioration of the diplomatic situation between the two countries may have unwanted consequences regarding mashgichim continuing to enter Jordan. Much time and money has been invested over recent months as the hechsherim set up the infrastructure for shmitah in the hope of having ample produce for the tzibur at large.

Mashgichim are spending four and five days a week in Jordan, under special protection and wearing Arab headgear as to avoid eliciting the anger of those who do not wish to see Jews in Jordan.

Ladaat reports that a source in the Eida Chareidis reports that in the past, mashgichim wore a kafiye to cover their yarmulke, but now, due to the growing security concerns, they are not wearing white shirts or other apparel that might identify them as rabbonim but wearing clothing that permits them to blend in with their surroundings.

Photo: Rabbonim of Badatz Sheiris Yisrael in Jordan

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)