About

WHO ARE WE, KINYAN ERETZ YISRAEL?

Kinyan Eretz Yisrael is a non-profit organization established 16 years ago by the esteemed HaRav Meir Leibowitz, Shlit”a, a Dayan in Jerusalem, in order to bring the benefit of the Mitzvos pertaining to the Land of Israel to Jews scattered throughout the world.

Harav Leibowitz has done extensive research into the topic of the Mitzvos pertaining to the Land of Israel, and has already written a book on this topic. Thousands of Jews throughout the world including many esteemed Admorim, Rabanim and Poskim have joined to become partners in the efforts of Kinyan Eretz Yisrael, and have already earned an incomparable merit by partaking in the agricultural Mitzvos of Eretz Yisrael.

Q&A

The plot of land where we are growing wheat is in Moshav Mazkeret Batya (near Rechovot), and the vinwyard where we are growing grapes is in Moshav Beit Uziel (near Rechovot)

All halachic question were brought before Maran Hagaon Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zal, and also before Hagaon Harav Chayim Kanyevsky zt”l.
The project is headed by Harav Shaul Reichenberg Shlita, one of the heads of The Beis Hamidrash for Agricultural Halachah and author of the sefer and the founder of the project is Rabbi Meir Leibowitz Shlita, 
There are two ways to join:
1) By signing a leasing contract for the plot of land and/or the section of the
Vine .(You can receive your contract either by e-mail or by fax. Just make
A call to our local office and tell us how we should send it to you.)
2) By filling out your details on our website (www.kinyaneretzyisrael.com) and paying by
Credit card either through our website or by phone.
Every member receive a personal number. Before the wheat or grape harvest every member will receive a letter from the Kinyan Eretz Yisrael Association asking him to appoint them as his emissary for carrying out on his behalf all the relevant mitzvos pertaining to the Land.
Certainly, provided your visit to the field or vineyard is prearranged with Kinyan Eretz Yisrael and is done only at time of harvesting.
Alternatively, one may appoint a representative from the Partnership Program of Kinyan Eretz Yisrael who will perform the Mitzvos on your behaf, and a personal visit to your field will not be necessary.

Yes (with the exception of those who are “Partnership Project” that is soon to be launched).

Certainly! In the vineyard, hanging on each vine is its owner’s personal number (given to him at the time of signing the contract). In the wheat field, each person’s plot is marked out on the map of the field that is in offices of Kinyan Eretz Yisrael. We hope in the near future that each member’s plot will be actually marked in the field itself, However, for logistic reasons, this has not been possible as yet.

In general, Kinyan Eretz Yisrael donates the produce to worthy causes decided upon by its management, Although it is certainly every member’s right to take the produce of his own plot for himself, if he so wishes, however, in cases where he does not notify the management of his desire to take the produce for himself, we will donate the produce to charitable causes.

First and foremost, the income is to cover the costs of the project, such as payment for agricultural work, advertising, etc. However, in the event that bs”d our income exceeds these costs, we intend to use these resources for publicizing the subject of the mitzvos pertaining of Eretz Yisrael throughout the world, both with regard to the learning of these halachos and also with regard to increasing public awareness of the halachic problem involved with exported produce from Eretz Yisrael.

From bar-mitzvah, i.e. a boy from age 13 and a girl from age 12.

Certainly! However, you have to make sure to fill in, the details of the recipient of the gift.

HaRav Shaul
Reichenberg

HaRav Reichenberg has served as the Rav HaPosek of Kinyan Eretz Yisrael since it was established in the year 5766.  He has served as the Rav who supervises all the activities pertaining to the organization in order to assure that the members fulfill the Mitzvos in the best way.

HaRav Reichenberg was born in the year 5010 in the agricultural moshav Yesodot.  This moshav town was established by orthodox religious families who were all involved in agriculture.  During the early morning hours and the evening, the men were involved in Torah study in the Bet Midrash.

This farm was administered according to strict Halacha, according to the teachings of the Hazon Ish, who was their guide in all the complex questions which arose in all the aspects of the growth of the fields, e.g. questions pertaining to the laws of Shemittah, Kilayim (prohibited combinations of vegetation,) Orlah (prohibited use of trees and fruit during the first three years,) Terumot and Maasrot (tithes) etc.

When Rav Reichenberg was thirteen years old he went to study in Yeshiva Kol Torah in Jerusalem.  When he completed his learning there he transferred to Yeshivat Ponevich, where he excelled as one of the finest students in the yeshiva, until his marriage.  After he married, he studied for about four more years in the Kollel of the Yad Binyamin moshav, near the Yesodot moshav.

Afterward, he moved to Jerusalem where for the last 40 years he has served as the Posek in the Bet Midrash for Halacha of HaRav Yosef Efrati, shlita.  There, any difficult questions of halacha pertaining to agriculture which arise are dealt with by Rav Reichenberg, who responds to direct inquiries via a dedicated phone line in the Bet Midrash.

In a similar fashion during these years, Rav Reichenberg planned and established “Keren HaMaasrot” in order to provide Halachic solutions to tens of thousands of Keren members to assist them in separating Terumot and Maasrot in the best fashion, especially pertaining to “Maaser Sheni” which applies to the first, second, fourth and fifth years of the Shemittah.

HaRav Reichenberg is the author of numerous books under the title of “Mishpetei Eretz” re: laws pertaining to the land of Israel which were published by the Bet Midrash for Halacha for agriculture.  In addition, he has written commentaries on the Mishnayot of the Talmud of tractates Challa, Orlah and Bikurim, and has written many articles in an anthology called “Halichot Sadeh.”

Harav Reichenberg serves as an esteemed member of the Vaad Harabanim pertaining to Tzedakah through the kupah of Ramat Shlomo.

School
Program

Kinyan Eretz Yisrael has organized a dynamic program for students in many Jewish schools in Israel, and is currently developing a similar program for yeshivot and summer camps abroad. 

This program teaches children all about the halachot hateluyot ba’aretz, and will bring the field experience to the students via video and material presentations.

Some schools have already adopted the program with great success and you are also invited!!! Please contact us to order the program.