
At-Sea Mitzvah: Mass Biur Ma’asros Ceremony Held Off Jaffa Coast Led by the Rishon LeTzion
A unique and stirring maamad of biur ma’asros was held on the waters off the coast of Jaffa on the eve of Shevi’i shel Pesach, as rabbanim and participants gathered for a special seafaring observance organized by the Institute for Mitzvos HaTeluyos Ba’Aretz.
The annual tradition, conducted during the designated shnas biur, featured a large group boarding a vessel to carry out the mitzvah in the open sea. The event was led by Rav Shneur Zalman Revach, head of the institute, and included the presence of Rishon LeTzion Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar, along with Rav Yisrael Revach, president of Mosdos Mishkan HaTorah; Rav Micha Halevi, Rav of Petach Tikvah; Rav Yitzchak Yosef, Rosh Kollel and Rav of Kehillas Shaarei Rachamim; as well as other rabbanim, morai hora’ah, and public figures, including Elad Mayor Yehuda Butbul, together with a large crowd.
Following the formal chilulim, recitation of “l’shem yichud”, and study of the Rambam in the laws of maaser sheini, thousands of coins designated for maaser—collected from both the main branch in Eretz Yisroel and a branch in the United States—were cast into the depths of the sea in fulfillment of the mitzvah of biur ma’asros as prescribed in the Torah.
After completing the mitzvah, participants returned to shore uplifted, singing songs of geulah and longing, filled with hope that they will soon merit to observe the mitzvah in its full Biblical form once again, bimheirah b’yameinu.