In the merit of shemittah

There are certain chassidic and Sephardic courts where the custom is that petitioners kiss the hand of the tzaddik as a means of drawing forth blessing and showing respect.

At this week’s event for Keren Hashevi’is in Moshav Chemed, the opposite happened. In advance of the shemittah year, people were allowed to “buy in” shares of those fields that will be keeping the halachos in order to partake in the zechus.

Rav Berel Povarsky presided over the gathering, and when one of the farmers was introduced to him, the Ponevezher rosh yeshivah leaned over and caressed the work-worn hand, lifting it to his mouth and giving it a kiss.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 864)