Dear QJC Family,
This past year was a Shemittah year, and at the end of this Jewish year, Shemittat Kesafim, forgiveness of loans, takes effect. With that said, nowadays one prevents the forgiveness of loans through a document known as the Pruzbul, put into effect by Hillel in the time of the Mishnah.
It is recommended for every adult Jew to sign a Pruzbul, even if one does not know of any loans they are owed. (A couple who share a bank account only needs to sign one Przubul.)
Attached is the Pruzbul as written by the Beth Din of America. I recommend filling out only the bottom half of the form, which only requires witnesses, while Sefardim preferably should have three dayanim.
https://images.shulcloud.com/522/uploads/Rabbi/Rabbis-files/PruzbulLetter.pdf You can complete the Pruzbul through declaring in front of two adult male witnesses (who are not your relatives or related to each other) that you submit debts owed to you to the Beth Din. Those witnesses should then sign the form.
I am not setting aside specific times for people to sign Pruzbuls, but you may come for minyan any morning or evening, and any two men at minyan are eligible to serve as witnesses. With that said, if you would like to make an appointment to sign a Pruzbul, please contact me and I will arrange.
This form should be submitted to me or to the office (either a hard copy or electronic copy is fine) by Friday, September 23, so that I can email it to the Beth Din before Rosh Hashanah begins.
I will discuss the Pruzbul at greater length Shabbos, September 17 at 5:45 PM.
Please be in touch with any questions.
With best wishes for a כתיבה וחתימה טובה,
Judah Kerbel
Rabbi, Queens Jewish Center
(P.S. I should emphasize that, other than seeking two appropriate witnesses, the form itself is easy to fill out. Please also see the recent
OU FAQ.)
