Hello StartUpRooters! I’m thrilled to present you with my interview of my Rabbi, who currently serves Midrashá Shaarei Biná in Jerusalem. As Shemitah is coming this fall, I decided to ask the Rabbi exactly what it is and what the Israeli people will need to do.
He explained that in Leviticus 25:4, the Torah says, “The seventh year shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath unto the Lord, thou shalt neither sow thy field nor prune thy vineyard.” He also explained that this teaches us to recognize that we do not possess the Earth and that it belongs to Hashem (God).
During the last shemitah, StartUpRoots was formed to address the challenge of providing access to healthy vegetables within the parameters of Jewish law. Utilizing cutting edge technology that was not connected to the ground, StartUpRoots engaged students to grow healthy food even during Shemitah. Today, StartUpRoots provides healthy and affordable access to food as well as an experiential multi-disciplinary curriculum that connects science, nutrition, and language arts, with Jewish tradition. StartUpRoots seeks to protect and promote the message of shemittah as well as other Torah values, including the Torah’s concept of social justice, which mandates that we safeguard our health, our Land, and the welfare of each other.
We would love to hear what you think about what we do. Please, share with us your opinions in the comment section!
Sincerely yours,
Lara Sukster, the blogger