Halachic lecture about heter mechirah during Shemitah and the sanctity of the seventh year in the fruit of non-Jews. Delivered by Rabbi Ovadya Yosef in 1973 during the 15th conference for Oral Torah by Mossad HaRav Kook. The lecture was printed in a special compilation containing all the conference’s lectures. These are the relevant pages (16-49) containing Rabbi Ovadya Yosef’s lecture.
After its printing, Rabbi Ovadya Yosef reviewed the content, and in his handwriting, commented, corrected, erased, changed and added entire passages, as well as rearranging the paragraphs. Compared to what is printed, it can be said of the handwritten variations that they change matters entirely.
To this day, the issue of heter mechirah during Shemitah is a matter of halachic as well as public controversy. Maran Rav Ovadya Yosef was the leader of the rabbis who were lenient, and supported the use of heter mechirah. He stated that in our time, the sale of the Land should be done, and anyone who wants to buy heter mechirah products certainly has upon what to rely, since the foundation of this dispensation lies in Hararei Kodesh. Rabbi Ovadya in his great mercy, with mercy for the families of the stringent, adds that only the meticulous can be stringent (and not rely on heter mechirah), provided that their family members are not hurt by lack of satisfactory fruit and vegetables (refer to his book Shu”t Yabi’ah Omer volume X, section 10 siman 37, pp. 257-268).
33 printed pages, dozens of handwritten notations; fine condition. Several aging stains. Tear without damage at the corner of the first leaf. Some of the leaves are detached.