[Avodah] reasons for mitzvot

[Eli Turkel]

An old question is the connection between reasons for mitzvot and
their observance.
One important application is shemitta. I recently saw that even R. Lau
was disturbed
by modern observance.
It is clear from the Torah that the purpose of shemitta is an
extension of the rest
of shabbat to a seventh year and a chance for spiritual reflection. In
addition it
gives the poor the hefker fruits/vegetables from the fields.

In our modern society few religious Jews live off of agriculture. I
saw a cute article
on applying the concepts to computers. Every seven years one does not develop
new software and only preserves what one has.

More seriously modern day poskim concentrate on ways of avoiding shemitta
by hydroponics, importing from outside the country etc. These suggestions all
give nothing for rejunevation or the poor. The stress of poskim is on
details rather
than the message. Instead we ruin Jewish agriculture with the only plus being
the new business for Arab and European agriculture at our expense.
While some few religious kibbutzin may have some sabbatical type program for
the average city dweller does nothing to improve our religiousity.

kol tuv

-- 
Eli Turkel