Who's afraid of the little old winemaker?

By Moshe Feiglin 3 Sivan, 5770 May 16, '10 Translated from the NRG website The aristocratic atmosphere in the elegant hotel that hosted Israel's wine competition did not disclose the scene that was about to take place: A small boutique winery, Hararai Kedem, won two gold medals and one silver medal. Hundreds of professional and amateur sommeliers watched in astonishment as the man with the beard and long sidelocks - who did not look particularly relevant to the glamorous event - hesitantly ascended the podium to accept his medals. "There are two factors in this achievement," said Ariel. The first is that our vineyard is located in the blessed Biblical inheritance of Joseph. The second is that we fulfilled the laws of the Shmittah year. We simply did not attend to the vineyard, as dictated by the Torah, and didn't take finances into account." Ariel thankfully accepted his medals and walked off the stage. His award-winning wines were produced from the grapes of the sixth year of the seven year Shmittah cycle. The experts told him that if he would not prune his vines during the Shmittah year, his entire vineyard would collapse. But just the opposite occurred - precisely what the Torah promises to the Jews who fulfill the laws of Shmittah: " And I will give you my blessing in the sixth year and it will make produce for three years." (Leviticus 25:3). In the sixth year of the seven year cycle, Ariel's vineyard produced more than three times its annual average. Usually, quantity reduces the quality of the grapes. But in Ariel's case, both quantity and quality were extraordinary, as attested to by the medals. At the beginning of the Shmittah year, Ariel divided his time between the permissible tasks in his vineyard and a strictly Jewish construction company that he had established. One of the major projects built by the company was the beautiful synagogue and yeshiva perched on a ridge overlooking his vineyard. The building permits were issued eleven years ago and the Housing Ministry even helped with some partial funding for the project. But the majority of the funding was from donations, while the building was painstakingly erected - stone by stone - by Ariel and his friends. Ariel thought that during the Shmittah year, he would divert most of his energies from agriculture to construction. But a work accident forced him to change his plans. "I guess that our Father in heaven wants me to learn Torah during the Shmittah year," he said with a smile. When he was released from the hospital he joined the many young men learning Torah in the new study hall. You may want to know where you can find more people like Ariel. I'm sorry to ruin your preconceptions, but in complete contrast to the media brainwashing - the place that you can fine Ariel and others like him is in Yitzhar - the settlement that the government and media love to hate. The Hararei Kedem Vineyards This week, the Ministry of Defense announced its plans to destroy the Od Yosef Chai synagogue and yeshiva that Ariel and his friends built. The last time in history that I can recall an official state decision to single out a synagogue for destruction was on Kristalnacht. Kristalnacht was preceded by a long period of dehumanization of the Jews of Germany. I assume that some of the incited talkbacks to this article will bear witness to the same process that has preceded this destruction order. I do not believe that there is any reason to turn to the courts in an attempt to counter this evil anti-Semitism. The fact that this building had all the necessary authorization and that thousands of Arab buildings are sprouting throughout our Land like mushrooms after the rain with impunity does not interest the court. The people of truth in our Land do not have courts to protect them from the abuse of the authorities. Turning to them just lends legitimacy to the mechanism of evil directly aimed at Ariel and his friends. They fear people like him like darkness that fears light. A small-time criminal acts against the law. A medium criminal bypasses the law. A big criminal uses the law. I think that any soldier, policeman or citizen who will take part in the destruction of the yeshiva, G-d forbid, is a very big criminal - a first-class, law-abiding criminal. He is a pawn in the war that the auto-anti-Semitic minority has declared on the truest Jews in this country. Editor's Note: Ariel Sheetrit is just one of the recipients of your donations to the annual Manhigut Yehudit tree-planting project. May he go from strength to strength as he continues to build and settle every inch of our Holy Land!