[PHOTOS BY JDN IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

As Shmittah 5775 drew to a close, the Montreal community gathered to honor and support the thousands of heroic farmers who fulfilled this mitzvah with the ultimate mesiras nefesh.

This was the first ever event in Canada on behalf of Keren Hashviis, the historic organization that has spread Shmittah observance to levels unseen since the times of the Bais Hamikdash. Over 3,000 farmers rested from their work during the past year under the Keren Hashviis umbrella.

A uniquely broad cross section of Montreal rabbanim, representing virtually all kehillos, headlined the event, which drew a large participation from the community at large. Keren Hashviis National Coordinator Rabbi Yaakov Hamer of New York served as the emcee, explaining the urgency of filling the organization’s $4 million budget gap before Shmittah fades from the public’s conscience.

Reb Shia Markowitz, CEO of Keren Hashviis USA and Canada, delivered a passionate address. Reb Shia noted the responsibility that yidden in chutz l’aretz bear on behalf of the giborei koach in Eretz Yisroel who fulfilled this difficult Mitzvah on our behalf. He shared a fascinating historical analysis of how the fortunes of people around the world on Shmittah years are contingent upon the observance of the Mitzvah.

The Dzibauer Rav shlit”a explained that Keren Hashviis’s massive $22.5 million budget for 5775 translates into merely a very modest amount per farmer, just enough to help them offset some of the steep financial losses they’ve endured.

Ira Zimmerman, a grape grower from the Meron area, was the special guest speaker. Ira, who also serves as Keren Hashviis coordinator for about 700 farmers in the Galil region, related in vivid detail the struggles that farmers still face. All farmers face compounding struggles as they reach the end of a no-income year and are still months away from receiving any of next year’s income.

For farmers like Ira, who grow grapes, olives and other crops on trees or vineyards, this is only the beginning of a long struggle. This is the season when their crops are typically ripe to harvest and sell, but they cannot sell anything that grew – even on its own – during Shmittah. These farmers are still approximately a year away from having a crop to sell, and are only now beginning to receive their Keren Hashviis stipends.

“Klal Yisroel showed a historic level of support for these heroic farmers over the past year or so,” Rabbi Hamer sums up. “With the help of yidden in Montreal and other communities, we will hopefully be able to assist the remaining needy farmers over the upcoming months as well, as they deserve.”