הלכות שמיטה ויובל
20 halachot · Hebrew + English
כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאָסוּר לַעֲבֹד הָאָרֶץ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית כָּךְ אָסוּר לְחַזֵּק יְדֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעוֹבְדִין אוֹתָהּ. אוֹ לִמְכֹּר לָהֶן כְּלֵי עֲבוֹדָה. לְפִי שֶׁאָסוּר לְחַזֵּק יְדֵי עוֹבְרֵי עֲבֵרָה:
Just as it is forbidden to work the land in the Sabbatical year, so too, it is forbidden to reinforce the hands of the Jews who do till it or to sell them farming tools, for it is forbidden to strengthen the hands of transgressors.
וְאֵלּוּ כֵּלִים שֶׁאֵין הָאֻמָּן רַשַּׁאי לְמָכְרָן בַּשְּׁבִיעִית לְמִי שֶׁחָשׁוּד עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית. מַחְרֵשָׁה וְכָל כֵּלֶיהָ הָעל וְהַמַּזְּרֶה וְהַדֶּקֶר. זֶה הַכְּלָל כָּל שֶׁמְּלַאכְתּוֹ מְיֻחֶדֶת לִמְלָאכָה שֶׁאֲסוּרָה בַּשְּׁבִיעִית אָסוּר לְמָכְרוֹ לְחָשׁוּד. וְלִמְלָאכָה שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּהְיֶה אֲסוּרָה וְתִהְיֶה מֻתֶּרֶת מֻתָּר לְמָכְרוֹ לְחָשׁוּד:
These are the utensils which a craftsman is not permitted to sell in the Sabbatical year to someone who is suspect [to violate the laws of] the Sabbatical year: a plow and all of its accessories, a yoke [for a team of oxen], a winnowing fork, and a mattock. This is the general principle: Any [utensil] that is exclusively used for a type of work that is forbidden in the Sabbatical year is forbidden to be sold to a person suspect [to violate the laws of] the Sabbatical year. [If it is used for] a type of work that may be forbidden or which might be permitted, it is permitted to be sold to a person suspect [to violate the laws of] the Sabbatical year.
כֵּיצַד. מוֹכֵר הוּא לוֹ הַמַּגָּל וְהָעֲגָלָה וְכָל כֵּלֶיהָ. שֶׁאִם יִקְצֹר בּוֹ מְעַט וְיָבִיא עַל הָעֲגָלָה מְעַט הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר. וְאִם יִקְצֹר כְּדֶרֶךְ הַקּוֹצְרִין אוֹ יָבִיא כָּל פֵּרוֹת שָׂדֵהוּ אָסוּר:
What is implied? He may sell him a sickle and a wagon and all of its accessories. For if he uses it to harvest a small amount of produce and he brings a small amount of produce on the wagon, it is permitted. If, however, he harvests in the ordinary manner of reapers or brings all the produce of his field, it is forbidden.
וּמֻתָּר לִמְכֹּר סְתָם לְמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ חָשׁוּד אֲפִלּוּ דָּבָר שֶׁמְּלַאכְתּוֹ מְיֻחֶדֶת לִמְלָאכָה הָאֲסוּרָה בַּשְּׁבִיעִית. שֶׁהֲרֵי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁקָּנָה בַּשְּׁבִיעִית לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ מְלָאכָה לְאַחַר שְׁבִיעִית:
It is permissible to sell [a utensil] - even one which is exclusively used for tasks forbidden in the Sabbatical year - to someone who is not suspect [to violate the laws of] the Sabbatical year without any stipulations, because it is possible that he purchased the article in the Sabbatical year to perform work [with it] after the Sabbatical year.
הַיּוֹצֵר מוֹכֵר חָמֵשׁ כַּדֵי שֶׁמֶן וַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר כַּדֵּי יַיִן. וּמֻתָּר לִמְכֹּר לְעַכּוּ"ם יֶתֶר מִזֶּה וְאֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ שֶׁמָּא יִמְכֹּר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. וּמוֹכֵר כַּדִּים רַבִּים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ וְאֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ שֶׁמָּא יְבִיאֵם לָאָרֶץ:
A potter may sell a person five jugs for oil and fifteen jugs for wine. It is permitted to sell a larger amount to a gentile. One need not suspect that perhaps he will sell them to a Jew. One may sell many jugs to a Jew in the Diaspora. One need not suspect that perhaps he will bring them to Eretz [Yisrael].
וּמוֹכֵר לְחָשׁוּד פָּרָה חוֹרֶשֶׁת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית שֶׁהֲרֵי אֶפְשָׁר לְשָׁחֳטָהּ. וּמוֹכֵר לוֹ שָׂדֵהוּ שֶׁהֲרֵי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיּוֹבִירָהּ. אֲבָל לֹא יִמְכֹּר לוֹ שְׂדֵה הָאִילָן אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן פָּסַק עִמּוֹ עַל מְנָת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בָּאִילָן. וּמַשְׁאִילוֹ סְאָה לִמְדֹּד בָּהּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ גֹּרֶן שֶׁהֲרֵי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּמְדֹּד בָּהּ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ. וּפוֹרֵט לוֹ מָעוֹת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ פּוֹעֲלִים. וְכֻלָּן בְּפֵרוּשׁ אֲסוּרִים:
One may sell a cow that plows to a person suspect [to violate the laws of the Sabbatical year] in the Sabbatical year, because it is possible to slaughter it. One may sell such a person a field, for it is possible that he will leave it fallow. He may not, however, sell him an orchard unless he stipulates that [the purchaser] does not have a share in the trees' [produce]. He may lend him [a measure of] a se'ah even though he knows that he has a granary, because he might use it to measure in his house. And he may exchange money for him even though he knows that he has workers [employed in violation of the laws of the Sabbatical year]. In all these instances, [if the purchaser states] explicitly [that he is intending to use the article in violation of the laws of the Sabbatical year, it] is forbidden.
וְכֵן מַשְׁאֶלֶת אִשָּׁה לַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ הַחֲשׁוּדָה עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית נָפָה וּכְבָרָה רֵחַיִם וְתַנּוּר. אֲבָל לֹא תָּבֹר וְלֹא תִּטְחֹן עִמָּהּ:
Similarly, a woman may lend a sifter, a sieve, a mill, and an oven to a friend who is suspect [to violate the prohibitions of the Sabbatical year], but she may not sift or grind with her.
מַחֲזִיקִין יְדֵי עַכּוּ"ם בַּשְּׁבִיעִית בִּדְבָרִים בִּלְבַד. כְּגוֹן שֶׁרָאָהוּ חוֹרֵשׁ אוֹ זוֹרֵעַ אוֹמֵר לוֹ תִּתְחַזֵּק אוֹ תַּצְלִיחַ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵינָם מְצֻוִּין עַל שְׁבִיתַת הָאָרֶץ. אֲבָל לֹא יְסַעֲדֶּנוּ בַּיָּד. וּמֻתָּר לִרְדּוֹת עִמָּהֶן הַכַּוֶּרֶת וְחוֹכְרִין מֵהֶן נִירִין לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָן בְּנֵי חִיּוּב כְּדֵי לִקְנֹס אוֹתָן:
We may encourage the gentiles [working] in the Sabbatical year, but only verbally. For example, if one sees one plowing or sowing, he should tell him: "Be strong," "Be successful," or the like, because they are not commanded to let the land rest. One may not physically assist them. It is permitted to remove honey from a beehive with them and one may enter a sharecropping agreement with them for land whose ground was broken [in the Sabbatical year], for they are not obligated to observe [these restrictions]. [Hence,] they are not penalized [for their violation].
מֻתָּר לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּסוּרְיָא בְּתָלוּשׁ אֲבָל לֹא בַּמְחֻבָּר. כֵּיצַד. דָּשִׁין וְזוֹרִין וְדוֹרְכִין וּמְעַמְּרִין. אֲבָל לֹא קוֹצְרִין וְלֹא בּוֹצְרִין וְלֹא מוֹסְקִין. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּאֵלּוּ:
In Syria, it is permitted to perform labor with produce that has been harvested, but not with produce that is still connected to the earth. What is implied? One may thresh produce, winnow it, squeeze grapes, and make sheaves out of grain, but one may not harvest grain, grapes, olives, or perform any similar activities.
כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת סְחוֹרָה בְּפֵרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית אוֹ לְשָׁמְרָן כָּךְ אָסוּר לִקַּח מֵעַם הָאָרֶץ. לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מוֹסְרִין דְּמֵי שְׁבִיעִית לְעַם הָאָרֶץ. וַאֲפִלּוּ כָּל שֶׁהוּא. שֶׁמָּא לֹא יֹאכַל אוֹתָן בִּקְדֻשַּׁת שְׁבִיעִית:
Just as it is forbidden to engage in business transactions with the produce of the Sabbatical year or to store them [until after the obligation of biyur has been incurred], so too, it is forbidden to purchase them from a common person. [The rationale is that] we do not give even the slightest amount of money exchanged for the produce of the Sabbatical year to a common person, lest he not partake of [food purchased with it] in a manner that befits the holiness of the Sabbatical year.
הַלּוֹקֵחַ לוּלָב מֵעַם הָאָרֶץ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית נוֹתֵן לוֹ אֶתְרוֹג מַתָּנָה. וְאִם לֹא נָתַן לוֹ מַבְלִיעַ לוֹ דְּמֵי אֶתְרוֹג בִּדְמֵי לוּלָב:
When a person purchases a lulav from a common person in the Sabbatical year, he should give him an esrog as a present. If he does not give it to him, he should have the price of the esrog included in the price of the lulav.
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָיָה מוֹכֵר פֵּרוֹת שֶׁכְּמוֹתָן בְּשָׁמוּר כְּגוֹן תְּאֵנִים וְרִמּוֹנִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. אֲבָל הָיָה מוֹכֵר פֵּרוֹת שֶׁחֶזְקָתָן מִן הַהֶפְקֵר כְּגוֹן הַפֵּיגָם וְהַיַּרְבּוּזִין וְהַשּׁוֹטִים וְהַחֲלַגְלוֹגוֹת וְהַכֻּסְבַּר שֶׁל הָרִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לִקַּח מִמֶּנּוּ מְעַט כִּדְמֵי שָׁלֹשׁ סְעֻדּוֹת בִּלְבַד מִשּׁוּם כְּדֵי חַיָּיו שֶׁל מוֹכֵר:
When does the above apply? When a person sells types of fruit that are usually protected, e.g., figs, pomegranates, or the like. If, however, he sells fruit which we could assume is ownerless, e.g., rue, amaranth, moss rose, coriander and the like, it is permitted to purchase from them a small amount, merely the worth of three meals. [This leniency was granted to allow] the seller to earn his livelihood.
וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב בְּמַעַשְׂרוֹת כְּגוֹן שׁוּם בַּעַל בְּכִי וּבָצָל שֶׁל רִכְפָּה וּגְרִיסִין הַקִּלְקִיּוֹת וַעֲדָשִׁים הַמִּצְרִיּוֹת וְכֵן זֵרְעוֹנֵי גִּנָּה שֶׁאֵינָן נֶאֱכָלוֹת כְּגוֹן זֶרַע לֶפֶת וּצְנוֹן וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ נִלְקָחִין מִכָּל אָדָם בַּשְּׁבִיעִית:
Similarly, any species from which the tithes are not obligated to be separated, e.g., exceedingly powerful garlic, the onions of Rikpah, a pearled Cilcilian bean, Egyptian lentils, and the like, and also the seeds of plants when [the seeds] are not eaten, e.g., those of turnips, radishes, and the like, may be purchased from any person in the Sabbatical year.
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּעַם הָאָרֶץ סְתָם. אֲבָל מִי שֶׁהוּא חָשׁוּד לַעֲשׂוֹת סְחוֹרָה בְּפֵרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית אוֹ לִשְׁמֹר פֵּרוֹתָיו וְלִמְכֹּר מֵהֶן אֵין לוֹקְחִין מִמֶּנּוּ דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו זִקַּת שְׁבִיעִית כְּלָל. וְאֵין לוֹקְחִין מִמֶּנּוּ פִּשְׁתָּן אֲפִלּוּ סָרוּק. אֲבָל לוֹקְחִין מִמֶּנּוּ טָווּי וְשָׁזוּר:
When does the above apply? To an ordinary common person. When, however, one is suspect to carry out transactions with the produce of the Sabbatical year or to guard his produce and sell it, we may not purchase anything from him that has any connection to the Sabbatical year. [Similarly,] we may not purchase flax - even combed out flax - from him. One may, however, purchase [flax] that has been spun and twisted [into threads].
הֶחָשׁוּד עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית אֵינוֹ חָשׁוּד עַל הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת. וְהֶחָשׁוּד עַל הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת אֵינוֹ חָשׁוּד עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית. שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁזֶּה וְזֶה מִן הַתּוֹרָה. מַעֲשֵׂר טָעוּן הֲבָאַת מָקוֹם מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בַּשְּׁבִיעִית. וּשְׁבִיעִית אֵין לָהּ פִּדְיוֹן מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּמַעֲשֵׂר:
A person who is suspect [to sell produce of] the Sabbatical year is not necessarily considered as suspect to [sell produce of the second] tithe. [Similarly,] one who is suspect [to sell produce of the second] tithe is not necessarily considered as suspect [to sell produce of] the Sabbatical year even though they are both Scriptural commandments. [The rationale is that each possesses a stringency which the other lacks.] The [second] tithe must be brought to [Jerusalem] and this does not apply with regard to [the produce of] the Sabbatical year. [Conversely, the produce of] the Sabbatical year cannot be redeemed and this does not apply with regard to [the produce of] the second tithe.
הֶחָשׁוּד עַל הַטָּהֳרוֹת אֵינוֹ חָשׁוּד לֹא עַל הַמַּעֲשֵׂר וְלֹא עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית. שֶׁהָאֹכֶל הַטָּמֵא הַזֶּה שֶׁמְּכָרוֹ בְּחֶזְקַת טָהוֹר אֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא אֲחֵרִים אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. וְהֶחָשׁוּד לְדִבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים אֵינוֹ חָשׁוּד לְדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה:
A person who is suspect [of selling impure food as if it were] ritually pure is not suspect [to sell produce of the second] tithe or [that of] the Sabbatical year. For the impure food that was sold as being ritually pure imparts impurity to others only according to Rabbinic Law and one who is suspect [of causing the transgression] of Rabbinic Law is not suspect [of causing the violation] of Scriptural Law.
כָּל הֶחָשׁוּד עַל דָּבָר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נֶאֱמָן עַל שֶׁל עַצְמוֹ נֶאֱמָן הוּא עַל שֶׁל אֲחֵרִים חֲזָקָה אֵין אָדָם חוֹטֵא לַאֲחֵרִים. לְפִיכָךְ הֶחָשׁוּד עַל הַדָּבָר דָּנוֹ וּמְעִידוֹ:
Whenever a person is suspect [of selling entities in violation of a prohibition], even though his word is not accepted with regard to his own property, his word is accepted with regard to [the property of] others. We operate under the assumption that a person will not violate a prohibition for the sake of others. Therefore even though a person is suspect with regard to a given [prohibition], he may judge and offer testimony regarding this matter.
הַכֹּהֲנִים חֲשׁוּדִין עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית לְפִי שֶׁהֵם אוֹמְרִים הוֹאִיל וְהַתְּרוּמוֹת מֻתָּרוֹת לָנוּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן אֲסוּרִין עַל הַזָּרִים בְּמִיתָה קַל וָחֹמֶר פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית. לְפִיכָךְ סְאָה תְּרוּמָה שֶׁנָּפְלָה לְמֵאָה סְאָה שֶׁל פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית תַּעֲלֶה. נָפְלָה לְפָחוֹת מִמֵּאָה יֵרָקְבוּ הַכּל וְלֹא יִמָּכְרוּ לַכֹּהֲנִים כְּכָל מְדֻמָּע לְפִי שֶׁהֵם חֲשׁוּדִין עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית:
Priests are considered suspect with regard to [the prohibitions of] the Sabbatical year. [The reason is that] they rationalize their conduct saying: Since the terumot are permitted to us even though they are forbidden to non-priests [and this violation is punishable] by death, certainly, the produce of the Sabbatical year is permitted to us. Therefore when a se'ah of terumah falls into 100 se'ah of the produce of the Sabbatical year, a se'ah should be separated. If it fell into less than 100 se'ah, the entire mixture should be left to rot instead of being sold to priests as other produce which is miduma, because they are suspect to violate the prohibitions of the Sabbatical year.
הַצַּבְעָנִין וְהַפַּטָּמִין לוֹקְחִין מֻרְסָן מִכָּל מָקוֹם. וְאֵינָן חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא מִסְּפִיחֵי שְׁבִיעִית הוּא:
Painters and cattle-raisers may purchase bran from any source. They need not suspect it is sefichin of the Sabbatical year.
גַּבָּאֵי קֻפָּה בַּשְּׁבִיעִית לֹא יִהְיוּ מְדַקְדְּקִין בַּחֲצֵרוֹת שֶׁל אוֹכְלִין שְׁבִיעִית. וְאִם נָתְנוּ לָהֶן פַּת מֻתֶּרֶת וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ שֶׁמָּא מִסְּפִיחֵי שְׁבִיעִית הוּא. שֶׁלֹּא נֶחְשְׁדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִהְיוֹת נוֹתְנִין אֶלָּא אוֹ מְעוֹת שְׁבִיעִית אוֹ בֵּיצִים הַנִּלְקָחוֹת בִּדְמֵי שְׁבִיעִית. וּמֻתָּר לִלְווֹת מִן הָעֲנִיִּים פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית וּמַחְזִירִין לָהֶן פֵּרוֹת בְּשָׁנָה שְׁמִינִית:
In the Sabbatical year, the collectors of the kupah were not careful [to refrain from entering] the courtyards of those who partake [of the sefichin] of the Sabbatical year. If they gave a loaf of bread, it is permitted [for the poor to partake of it]. We do not suspect that perhaps it is from the sefichin of the Sabbatical year. For the Jews were not suspect to give [the produce of the Sabbatical year to charity], only money received for the produce of the Sabbatical year or eggs which were purchased with money received for the produce of the Sabbatical year. It is permitted to borrow the produce of the Sabbatical year from the poor. They should be repaid with produce in the eighth year.