Rav Ovadiah and the Heter Mechirah
In the past Rav Ovadiah has come out in support of the heter mechirah, and it seems as if today a heter mechirah took place in his house. One of Rav Ovadiah’s sons is quoted as saying the following, “There is a campaign of terror in the Land [of Israel]. There is nothing halakhic here, it is just politics. My father saved the state because he worries about all of Israel (kelal yisrael), since all are not strict about ‘mehadrin’”. In a nutshell one of the big differences between Rav Ovadiah Yosef and many of the Ashkenazi rabbis, he actually cares about people other than those who are strictly observant. For more on Rav Ovadiah and the heter mechirah see Hazon Ovadiah-Shevi’it ve-Hilchoteha, p. 591 ff.
Also see this great collection of shmitta-related material at the JNUL. Via Seforim.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:11 am
are you sure you do not mean Yalkut Yosef - shviit v’mitzvoteha? I did not know that Rav Ovadiah came out with his own book. Yalkut Yosef has also come out with a small guide for this year’s shmitta - Hashviit v’hichoteha.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:55 am
You are correct. Another al-het for me. Shannah Tovah M to you and your family.
September 18th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Last week’s Mishpacha magazine (which is not from the more RW publications read by the Chareidi world) wrote that the great rabbis of our generation all hold that the heter mechirah is no longer a valid option (this is not a direct quote but it is close). By using the word ‘all’ they appear to be saying that ROY, who knows more Torah than anyone who ever lived, is not a great rabbi?!