Rav Shteinman is being quoted as having said something that is supposedly unique (otherwise why is it of interest) regarding hetter mechira.
Bechadrei says that Rav Shteinman was recently asked if hetter mechira produce can be used to feed the poor. Supposedly Rav Shteinman's answer was that the hetter mechira produce must be thrown out into the garbage and not be used even to feed the poor.
I get that plenty of people hold hetter mechira produce cannot be eaten. It makes sense to me that if you hold that so strongly, even to the point where it is not just a chumra to avoid hetter mechira produce but you say the sale has no actual effectiveness, then you hold that hetter mechira produce cannot be eaten under any circumstances. Even to feed the poor.
That part of it is all fine by me, according to the opinion of Rav Shteinman. His position is consistent.
My question is that if you hold the hetter mechira does nothing, the sale is totally irrelevant and ineffective, then you must hold that the produce has kedusha - holiness of shmitta produce. It cannot be eaten, but it has kedusha. How could Rav Shteinman say the food cannot be eaten because the mechira was invalid while at the same time instructing the questioner to throw the produce in the garbage? Maybe he meant to wrap it in bags and dispose of it properly for kedusha produce?
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
