Halacha
הלכה א
פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית אֵין אוֹכְלִין מֵהֶן אֶלָּא כָּל זְמַן שֶׁאוֹתוֹ הַמִּין מָצוּי בַּשָּׂדֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה ז) "וְלִבְהֶמְתְּךָ וְלַחַיָּה אֲשֶׁר בְּאַרְצֶךָ תִּהְיֶה כָל תְּבוּאָתָהּ לֶאֱכל". כָּל זְמַן שֶׁחַיָּה אוֹכֶלֶת מִמִּין זֶה מִן הַשָּׂדֶה אַתָּה אוֹכֵל מִמַּה שֶּׁבַּבַּיִת. כָּלָה לַחַיָּה מִן הַשָּׂדֶה חַיָּב לְבַעֵר אוֹתוֹ הַמִּין מִן הַבַּיִת וְזֶהוּ בִּעוּר שֶׁל פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית:
כסף משנה
1.
We may only partake of the produce of the Sabbatical year as long as that species is found in the field. [This is derived from Leviticus 25:7]: "For the animal and the beast in your land will be all the produce to eat." [Implied1See the Sifra to that verse.From the fact that a verse from the Torah is brought as support, the Minchat Chinuch concludes that the obligation of biyur is of Scriptural origin. The P'nei Yehoshua (Pesachim 52b), however, maintains that the verse is merely an asmachta, a support brought by the Rabbis for their own ordinance, and in truth, the obligation is Rabbinic. He supports this thesis by the fact that, otherwise, it would have been appropriate for the Rambam to consider the obligation as one of the mitzvot. is that] as long as a beast2I.e., a wild animal which you are not obligated to feed. See the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Shivi'it 9:2). [can be] eating from this species in the field, one may eat from [what he has collected] at home. When there is no longer any [of that species] for the beast to eat in the field, one is obligated to remove that species from his home. This is the obligation of biyur which applies to the produce of the Sabbatical year.
הלכה ב
כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ גְּרוֹגָרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ אוֹכֵל מֵהֶן כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַתְּאֵנִים בָּאִילָנוֹת בַּשָּׂדֶה. כָּלוּ הַתְּאֵנִים מִן הַשָּׂדֶה אָסוּר לֶאֱכל מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁבַּבַּיִת אֶלָּא מְבַעֵר אוֹתָן:
כסף משנה
2.
What is implied? If a person has dried figs at home, he may partake of them as long as there are figs on the trees in the field. When there are no longer figs in the field, it is forbidden for him to partake of the figs he has at home and he must instead remove them.3As the Rambam states in the following halachah.הלכה ג
הָיוּ לוֹ פֵּרוֹת מְרֻבִּין מְחַלְּקָן מְזוֹן שָׁלֹשׁ סְעֻדּוֹת לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד. וְאָסוּר לֶאֱכל אַחַר הַבִּעוּר בֵּין לַעֲנִיִּים בֵּין לַעֲשִׁירִים. וְאִם לֹא מָצָא אֳכָלִין בִּשְׁעַת הַבִּעוּר שׂוֹרֵף בָּאֵשׁ אוֹ מַשְׁלִיךְ לְיָם הַמֶּלַח וּמְאַבְּדָן לְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁמְּאַבֵּד:
כסף משנה
3.
If he had a large amount of produce, he should distribute4On the day of the biyur. a quantity that can be eaten in three meals to every person [he desires]. It is forbidden - both for the rich and the poor5There is a difference of opinion concerning this matter in the mishnah (Sh'vi'it 5:3, 9:8). - to partake of it after the time of biyur. If he is not able to find people to eat at the time of biyur, he should burn it with fire or cast it into Mediterranean Sea,6This is how the Rambam [in the conclusion of his Commentary to the Mishnah, et al], interprets the phrase yam hamelech. See also Hilchot Ma'aser Sheni 2:2. Others interpret it as referring to the Dead Sea. In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 9:2), he mentions only casting the produce into the sea. or destroy it through any other means.7Thus the Rambam interprets the word biyur as meaning "destruction." After the time of biyur, the produce must be destroyed. The Ramban (in his commentary to the Torah) and other Rishonim, however, interpret it as "removal" and maintain that after the biyur, all that is necessary is to renounce one's ownership over the produce and thus remove it from one's domain. Rav Yosef Corcus states that this view can be relied upon in the present era and, indeed, this is the practice in Eretz Yisrael today.הלכה ד
הָיוּ לוֹ צִמּוּקִין שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית. וְכָלוּ הָעֲנָבִים מִן הַשָּׂדֶה מִן הַגַּגּוֹת וְהַפַּרְדֵּסִים שֶׁהֵן הֶפְקֵר. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן יֵשׁ עֲנָבִים בַּגְּפָנִים שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַחֲצֵרוֹת אֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל מִן הַצִּמּוּקִין מִפְּנֵי עֲנָבִים אֵלּוּ שֶׁבְּחָצֵר. לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָן מְצוּיִין לַחַיָּה. אֲבָל אִם יֵשׁ עֲנָבִים קָשִׁים בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁאֵינָן נִגְמָרִין אֶלָּא בְּסוֹף הַשָּׁנָה הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹכֵל מִן הַצִּמּוּקִין בִּשְׁבִילָן. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:
כסף משנה
4.
If one had raisins from the Sabbatical year and there were no longer any grapes left in the fields,8In a later addition to his Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 9:4; see Rav Kappach's notes), the Rambam states that fields within a city are considered like gardens. Here he is speaking of those in the outlying areas. the gardens, and the orchards which are ownerless,9I.e., regarded as ownerless in the Sabbatical year. even though there are still grapes on the vines in the courtyards, he may not partake of the raisins because of the grapes in the courtyard, because they are not accessible to a wild beast.10I.e., a homeowner will not leave his courtyard open so that a wild beast can enter it at will. (He must, however, regard even the produce growing in his courtyard as ownerless and allow another person to enter and pick it.) If, however, there are very firm grapes that do not mature until the end of the year [still growing in the field], one may partake of the raisins [he has stored] because of them. Similar laws apply in all analogous instances.הלכה ה
אִילָן שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה פֵּרוֹת שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים בְּשָׁנָה וְהָיוּ לוֹ מִפֵּרוֹתָיו הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹכֵל מֵהֶן כָּל זְמַן שֶׁפֵּרוֹת שְׁנִיּוֹת מְצוּיוֹת בַּשָּׂדֶה. שֶׁהֲרֵי מֵאוֹתוֹ הַמִּין בַּשָּׂדֶה. אֲבָל פֵּרוֹת הַסְּתָו אֵין אוֹכְלִים בִּשְׁבִילָן. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדּוֹמִין לַפֵּרוֹת שֶׁל שָׁנָה אַחֶרֶת:
כסף משנה
5.
When a tree produces fruit twice a year and one still possesses fruit from its first crop, he may partake of it as long as the second crop is still in the field. For [the requirement that] this species be [available] in the field [is met]. We do not, however, [continue to] partake [of stored fruit] because of fruit that grows in the fall,11Since this fruit grows in the rainy season, which begins well after Rosh HaShanah, it is considered as the produce of the eighth year and not of the Sabbatical year. because it is considered as the produce of a different year.הלכה ו
הַכּוֹבֵשׁ שְׁלֹשָׁה כְּבָשִׁים בְּחָבִית אַחַת. כָּל שֶׁכָּלָה מִינוֹ מִן הַשָּׂדֶה יְבָעֵר מִינוֹ מִן הֶחָבִית. וְאִם הִתְחִיל בָּהּ הֲרֵי הַכּל כִּמְבֹעָר. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁמְּבַעֵר אָכֳלֵי אָדָם כָּךְ מְבַעֵר אָכֳלֵי בְּהֵמָה מִן הַבַּיִת. וְאֵינוֹ מַאֲכִילָן לִבְהֵמָה אִם כָּלָה אוֹתוֹ הַמִּין מִן הַשָּׂדֶה:
כסף משנה
6.
When a person pickles three types of produce in one barrel, if one of these types of produce is no longer available in the field, that type of produce should be removed from the barrel.12And eaten or destroyed, as stated in Halachah 3. He is not, however, obligated to remove the other two types of produce. Although the one type of produce that is now forbidden has imparted its flavor to the other two types, that does not cause them to be forbidden. If he began partaking of [the pickled produce], the entire [mixture] is considered as having been removed.13Our translation is based on the interpretation of Mareh HaPonim (a gloss to the Jerusalem Talmud, Sh'vi'it 9:5). He explains that once a jar of pickled vegetables were opened (in pre-refrigeration eras), the vegetables would spoil rapidly. Hence, it is considered as if the entire batch was already removed from his possession.Just as one is obligated to remove food [stored for] human consumption, so too, must he remove animal fodder from his home and he may no longer feed it to an animal if that type of produce is no longer available in the field.14In this context, there is no difference between the laws applying to food for humans and animal fodder.
הלכה ז
וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁמְּבַעֲרִין אֶת הַפֵּרוֹת כָּךְ מְבַעֲרִין אֶת הַדָּמִים. כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁמָּכַר רִמּוֹנִים שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית וַהֲרֵי הוּא אוֹכֵל בִּדְמֵיהֶן. וְכָלוּ הָרִמּוֹנִים מִן הָאִילָנוֹת שֶׁבַּשָּׂדֶה וְנִשְׁאַר אֶצְלוֹ מִן הַדָּמִים שֶׁמָּכַר בָּהֶן חַיָּב לְבַעֲרָן:
כסף משנה
7.
Just as one must remove the produce of the Sabbatical year, so too, one must remove the money [received in exchange for it].15For as stated in Chapter 6, Halachah 6, the holiness of the produce is transferred to the money received for it. What is implied? One sold pomegranates of the Sabbatical year and used the money received in return for them [to purchase] food. When there are no longer any pomegranates on the trees in the field, but he remains in possession of the money he received for selling them, he is obligated to remove it from his possession.הלכה ח
כֵּיצַד עוֹשֶׂה. קוֹנֶה בָּהֶן. מַאֲכָלוֹת וּמְחַלְּקָן מְזוֹן שָׁלֹשׁ סְעֻדּוֹת לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד. אוֹ יַשְׁלִיכֵם לְיָם הַמֶּלַח אִם לֹא מָצָא אוֹכְלִין:
כסף משנה
8.
What should he do? He should purchase food with this money and distribute it, [providing] three meals to every person [he desires].16As above, these activities should be performed on the day the obligation of biyur takes place. The Radbaz explains that the person is required to purchase food with the money. It is not sufficient for him to distribute the money itself and tell the recipients to purchase food, for perhaps they will fail to do so. Alternatively, if he does not find people to partake of such food, he should cast the money into the Mediterranean Sea.הלכה ט
שָׁלֹשׁ אֲרָצוֹת לְבִעוּר. אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה כֻּלָּהּ הָהָר וְהַשְּׁפֵלָה וְהָעֵמֶק אֶרֶץ אַחַת. עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן כֻּלּוֹ שִׁפְלַת לוּד וְהַר שִׁפְלַת לוּד וּמִבֵּית חוֹרוֹן עִם הַיָּם אֶרֶץ אַחַת. וְהַגָּלִיל כֻּלּוֹ הָעֶלְיוֹן וְהַתַּחְתּוֹן וּתְחוּם טְבֶרְיָא אֶרֶץ אַחַת. וְאוֹכְלִין בְּכָל אַחַת וְאַחַת מִשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה הָאַחֲרוֹן שֶׁבָּהּ:
כסף משנה
9.
[Eretz Yisrael is divided into] three lands [with regard to the obligation of] biyur:17I.e., as the Rambam proceeds to explain, Eretz Yisrael is not considered a single entity with regard to this obligation, for different conditions apply in each of the three regions. Each of those regions individually, however, is considered as a single integral entity although different conditions apply in each of its districts.a) the entire land of Yehudah, its mountainous portion, its plain, and its valley, is all one region.18I.e., this region - as well as the other two - is subdivided into three districts.
b) the entire [West] Bank of the Jordan,19The term Ever HaYarden, literally Trans-Jordan, is most commonly used to refer to the areas on the Eastern bank of the Jordan, as mentioned at the conclusion of the Book of Numbers, throughout the Book of Deuteronomy, and in many places throughout the Mishnah. There are many authorities (among them, Rabbenu Shimshon and Rabbenu Tam) who therefore consider that as the proper interpretation in this instance as well. In this instance, however, the Rambam understands the term differently. His view is accepted by Rabbenu Asher, Rav Ovadiah of Bartenura, and explained by Kaftor UPerach. See also the gloss of Rav Akiva Eiger. [including] the plain of Lod, the mountains [around] the plain of Lod, [the area of] Beit Choron, with the sea, is all one region; and
c) the entire Galilee, the upper [Galilee], the lower [Galilee], and the area of Tiberias, is one region. In each of these three regions, one may partake [of a species of produce stored at home] until the last [traces of that produce] cease [to exist in the entire region's fields].
הלכה י
כֵּיצַד. הָיוּ לוֹ פֵּרוֹת בְּאֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה. אוֹכֵל מֵהֶן כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיֵּשׁ מֵאוֹתוֹ הַמִּין בְּכָל אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה כֻּלָּהּ. וְכֵן אִם הָיוּ לוֹ פֵּרוֹת גָּלִיל. וְכֵן בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן:
כסף משנה
10.
What is implied? If one possesses produce in the land of Yehudah, one may partake of it as long as this species is found [in the fields of] the entire land of Yehudah.20Even if it is no longer available in the particular district in which one is located. See Sh'vi'it 9:2-3. Similar laws apply if he possesses produce from the Galilee or from the [West] Bank of the Jordan.הלכה יא
וְשָׁלֹשׁ אֲרָצוֹת אֵלּוּ כֻּלָּן חֲשׁוּבוֹת כְּאֶרֶץ אַחַת לְחָרוּבִין וּלְזֵיתִים וְלִתְמָרִים. וְאוֹכְלִין בַּתְּמָרִים עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה הָאַחֲרוֹן שֶׁבְּצֹעַר. וְאֵימָתַי הוּא כָּלֶה. עַד הַפּוּרִים. וְאוֹכְלִין בְּזֵיתִים עַד הָעֲצֶרֶת. וּבַעֲנָבִים עַד הַפֶּסַח שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית. וּבִגְרוֹגְרוֹת עַד הַחֲנֻכָּה:
כסף משנה
11.
These three regions are considered as one entity with regard to carobs, olives, and dates.21And one may eat these species in one region even though they are no longer available in that entire region, as long as they are available in other portions of Eretz Yisrael. Among the reasons given for the distinction between these species and other fruits is that there is little difference between the times these fruits grow in one region of Eretz Yisrael and another. Also, these species remain on the tree after they have ripened for longer than most fruits. Hence, there is added reason for seeking a common date. One may eat dates [throughout Eretz Yisrael] until the last dates are no longer available in Tzo'ar.22A village near Jericho, a region renown for its dates. They grow there later than in other places in Eretz Yisrael. From when are they no longer available? Purim. We may eat olives until Shavuot and grapes until Pesach of the eighth year. Dried figs may be eaten until Chanukah.23The commentaries have questioned the Rambam's statements with regard to figs and grapes, for they imply that there is a universal time for the biyur of these species and yet they are not mentioned together with the three species at the beginning of the halachah. The Radbaz resolves this question by saying that the dates mentioned by the Rambam are the latest applicable in all of the three regions.הלכה יב
הַמּוֹלִיךְ פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁכָּלוּ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא כָּלוּ אוֹ מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא כָּלוּ לַמָּקוֹם שֶׁכָּלוּ חַיָּב לְבַעֵר. לְפִי שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין עָלָיו חֻמְרֵי מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּצָא מִשָּׁם וְחֻמְרֵי מָקוֹם שֶׁהָלַךְ לְשָׁם. וּפֵרוֹת הָאָרֶץ שֶׁיָּצְאוּ לְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מִתְבַּעֲרִים בִּמְקוֹמָן וְלֹא יַעֲבִירֵם מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם:
כסף משנה
12.
When a person transports produce of the Sabbatical year from a region in which it is no longer available [in the field] to a region where it is available, or from a region where it is available to a region in which it is no longer available, he is obligated in biyur. [The rationale is that] we place upon him the stringencies of the place from which he departed and those of the place to which he journeyed.24This is a general principle applied in several different contexts in Torah law to maintain unity within the Jewish community; see Hilchot Sh'vitat Yom Tov 8:20. With regard to the matter at hand, since the obligation of biyur has already taken effect in one of these regions, he is obligated to observe it.When the produce of Eretz Yisrael has been brought to the Diaspora, it should be destroyed in its place.25I.e., it need not be brought back to Eretz Yisrael to be destroyed there as required by one opinion in Sh'vi'it 6:5. As stated in Chapter 5, Halachah 13, as an initial preference, the produce of the Sabbatical year should not be brought to the Diaspora. It should not be transported from one place to another.
הלכה יג
כְּלָל גָּדוֹל אָמְרוּ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית כָּל שֶׁהוּא מַאֲכַל אָדָם אוֹ מַאֲכַל בְּהֵמָה אוֹ מִמִּין הַצּוֹבְעִין אִם אֵינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּם בָּאָרֶץ יֵשׁ לוֹ וּלְדָמָיו שְׁבִיעִית וְחַיָּב בְּבִעוּר הוּא וְדָמָיו. כְּגוֹן עֲלֵי הַלּוּף הַשּׁוֹטֶה וַעֲלֵי הַדַּנְדַּנָּה וְהָעֵלְשִׁין מַאֲכַל אָדָם. וּכְגוֹן הַחוֹחִים וְהַדַּרְדָּרִין מַאֲכַל הַבְּהֵמָה. וּכְגוֹן אִסְטִס וְקוֹצָה מִמִּין הַצּוֹבְעִין. וְאִם הָיָה מִתְקַיֵּם בָּאָרֶץ כְּגוֹן הַפּוּאָה וְהַרִכְפָּה מִמִּין הַצּוֹבְעִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁבִיעִית וּלְדָמָיו שְׁבִיעִית אֵין לָהֶם בִּעוּר וְלֹא לִדְמֵיהֶם שֶׁהֲרֵי מִתְקַיֵּם בָּאָרֶץ אֶלָּא נֶהֱנִין וְצוֹבְעִין בּוֹ עַד רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה:
כסף משנה
13.
A great general principle was stated with regard to [the produce of] the Sabbatical year: Whenever [produce] is [used as] food for humans, animal fodder, or as one of the dyes, if it will not be maintained in the earth, the laws of the Sabbatical year apply to it and to money received for it and the requirements of biyur apply to it26For it is maintained in the earth only for a specific time. and to money received for it, e.g., the leaves of wild onions, mint, and endives, are considered as food for humans, brambles and thorn are considered as animal fodder, and woad27Which produces a bluish dye. and safflower are considered as dyes. If the species is maintained in the earth, e.g., madder28Which produces a red dye. and dyer's rocket from the dyes,29The Rambam does not mention food for human's or animal fodder, for all species of these types of produce reach a point where they are no longer available in the field and the obligation of biyur takes effect at that time. even though the laws of the Sabbatical year apply to it and to money received for it. The requirements of biyur do not apply to it or to money received for it, because it is maintained in the earth.30And thus is continually available to an animal. Instead, one may benefit from it and use it as dye until Rosh HaShanah.31I.e., until the end of the Sabbatical year. Some commentaries maintain that the text should read "after Rosh HaShanah," for the plants that grew in the Sabbatical year will continue growing into the eighth year. In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 7:2), the Rambam states: "We continue to use them and benefit from them until they cease [growing in the field]." The Radbaz follows this understanding, but maintains that after Rosh HaShanah, these plants should be declared ownerless. That fulfills the requirement of biyur with regard to them.הלכה יד
וְכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְיֻחָד לֹא לְמַאֲכַל אָדָם וְלֹא לְמַאֲכַל בְּהֵמָה וְאֵינוֹ מִמִּין הַצּוֹבְעִים. הוֹאִיל וְאֵינוֹ לְעֵצִים יֵשׁ לוֹ וּלְדָמָיו שְׁבִיעִית. אֲבָל אֵין לָהֶם בִּעוּר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּם בָּאָרֶץ אֶלָּא נֶהֱנִין בּוֹ אוֹ בְּדָמָיו עַד רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה כְּגוֹן עִקְּרֵי הַלּוּף הַשּׁוֹטֶה וְעִקַּר הַדַּנְדַּנָּה וְהָעַקְרְבָנִין:
כסף משנה
14.
Whenever a plant is not set aside to be [used as] food for humans, animal fodder, or as one of the dyes, since it is not used as kindling fuel,32The laws of the Sabbatical year do not apply to kindling fuel, as stated in Chapter 5, Halachah 21. the laws of the Sabbatical year apply to it and to money received for it,33Since a person has chosen to benefit from it, he must treat it as the produce of the Sabbatical year. but the requirements of biyur do not apply to it34Since it is not considered as food or animal fodder, there is no limit until when it would normally be used. or to those monies. [This applies] even if it will not be maintained in the earth. Instead, we may benefit from it and the money received for it until Rosh HaShanah.35The Rambam does not mention food for human's or animal fodder, for all species of these types of produce reach a point where they are no longer available in the field and the obligation of biyur takes effect at that time. Examples [of this category include] the roots of wild onions and mint and the scorpion-like herb.הלכה טו
קְלִפֵּי רִמּוֹן וְהַנֵּץ שֶׁלּוֹ קְלִפֵּי אֱגוֹזִים וְהַגַּרְעִינִין יֵשׁ לָהֶם שְׁבִיעִית וְלִדְמֵיהֶם שְׁבִיעִית אֲבָל אֵין לָהֶם בִּעוּר וְלֹא לִדְמֵיהֶם. לוּלְבֵי זְרָדִים וְהֶחָרוּבִים יֵשׁ לָהֶם וְלִדְמֵיהֶם שְׁבִיעִית וּבִעוּר. לוּלְבֵי הָאֵלָה וְהַבָּטְנָה וְהָאֲטָדִין יֵשׁ לָהֶן וְלִדְמֵיהֶן שְׁבִיעִית אֲבָל אֵין לָהֶם בִּעוּר. אֲבָל לְעָלִים שֶׁלָּהֶן יֵשׁ בִּעוּר:
כסף משנה
15.
The laws of the Sabbatical year apply to the peels and the buds of pomegranates, the shells of nuts,36The Radbaz maintains that this refers to the inner shell which is useful as a dye. The hard outer shell, by contrast, is useful only for kindling and the laws of the Sabbatical year do not apply to it. and the seeds [of other fruits] and to the money received for them,37For they are useful as dyes (Radbaz). but the requirements of biyur do not apply to them or to those monies.The laws of the Sabbatical year apply to the tips of the branches of grape vines38When these branches are soft, they are occasionally cut off, pickled, and served as food [the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 7:5)]. and carob trees and to the money received for them, as do the requirements of biyur.39The requirements of biyur apply, because the tips of these branches will ultimately fall from the tree (Radbaz). The laws of the Sabbatical year apply to the tips of the branches of the evergreen oak, the pistachio tree, and the box thorn bush40Apparently, these branches are also pickled on occasion. and to the money received for them, but the requirements of biyur do not apply to them.41From the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (ibid.), it would appear that the rationale is that these branches continue growing on the tree. The requirement of biyur does apply to their leaves.42Because they fall from the branches and thus are not maintained in the earth (ibid.).
הלכה טז
אֵיזוֹ הִיא שְׁעַת בִּעוּר הֶעָלִין בְּעֵת שֶׁיִּבּוֹלוּ וְנוֹשְׁרִין מֵאִילָנוֹתֵיהֶן. עֲלֵי זֵיתִים וַעֲלֵי קָנִים וַעֲלֵי חָרוּבִין אֵין לָהֶם בִּעוּר לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָן נוֹבְלוֹת וְכָלוֹת:
כסף משנה
16.
When is the time for biyur? For leaves, it is when they wither and fall from the tree.43For at this point, they are no longer accessible to an animal in the field. The leaves of olive trees, reeds, and carob trees do not have a time of biyur, because they never wither and fall away.הלכה יז
וְעַד מָתַי יִהְיֶה אָדָם רַשַּׁאי לִלְקֹט עֲשָׂבִים לַחִין בַּשְּׁבִיעִית עַד שֶׁיִּיבַשׁ הַמָּתוֹק וִיגַבֵּב. עֲשָׂבִים יְבֵשִׁים עַד שֶׁתֵּרֵד רְבִיעָה שְׁנִיָּה בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית:
כסף משנה
17.
Until when does a person have the license to gather fresh grass in the Sabbatical year? Until the bitter44Our translation is taken from the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 3:1)]. There he explains that although matok, the name the Mishnah uses, means "sweet," this fruit has a bitter taste and that term is used as a euphemism. Some have identified this species with the colocynth, a wild gourd with a very bitter flavor. The Radbaz identifies it with a bitter species of grass. [apples] become dried out.45When these gourds have dried, fresh grass will no longer be available in the field for animals. He may gather dried grasses46For animal fodder. until the second rains of the eighth year.47For the rains will spoil the grasses and they will no longer be available in the fields (Radbaz). In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 9:6), the Rambam explains that these rains usually come between the seventeenth of MarCheshvan and the first of Kislev.הלכה יח
וְעַד מָתַי יִהְיוּ הָעֲנִיִּים מֻתָּרִין לְהִכָּנֵס בְּפַרְדֵּסוֹת בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית לְאִסּוּף פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית. עַד שֶׁתֵּרֵד רְבִיעָה שְׁנִיָּה:
כסף משנה
18.
Until when are the poor48Or for that matter the rich, for everyone is allowed to gather the fruit of the Sabbatical year (Radbaz). permitted to enter the orchards in the eighth year to gather the fruits of the Sabbatical year?49In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 9:7), the Rambam explains that this concept also applies to the poor gathering the presents of leket, shichachah, and pe'ah in other years. Until the second rains descend.50From this point on, there are no longer fruits available in the fields.הלכה יט
הַוֶּרֶד וְהַכֹּפֶר וְהַלֹּטֶם יֵשׁ לָהֶן וְלִדְמֵיהֶן שְׁבִיעִית. הַקְּטָף וְהוּא שָׂרָף הַיּוֹצֵא מֵהָאִילָנוֹת מִן הֶעָלִים וּמֵהָעִקָּרִים אֵין לוֹ שְׁבִיעִית. וְהַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַפַּגִּים יֵשׁ לוֹ וּלְדָמָיו שְׁבִיעִית:
כסף משנה
19.
The laws of the Sabbatical year apply to roses, cloves, and chestnuts and to the money received for them.51For these are all considered as fruit. The laws of the Sabbatical year do not apply to balsam sap that flows from trees, from their leaves, and their roots.52Because this sap does not come from the fruit of the tree, but from the tree itself. They do apply to [sap] that flows from underdeveloped berries53For these are fruit. and the money received for it.הלכה כ
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּאִילַן מַאֲכָל. אֲבָל בְּאִילַן סְרָק אַף הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הֶעָלִין וּמִן הָעִקָּרִים כִּפְרִי שֶׁלָּהֶן וְיֵשׁ לוֹ וּלְדָמָיו שְׁבִיעִית:
כסף משנה
20.
When does the above apply? When the tree produces edible fruit. If, however, the tree is not fruitbearing, the sap that flows from its leaves and roots is considered as its fruit54For this is its sole product. and the laws of the Sabbatical year apply to it and to the money received for it.הלכה כא
הַכּוֹבֵשׁ וֶרֶד שְׁבִיעִית בְּשֶׁמֶן שֶׁל שִׁשִּׁית יְלַקֵּט אֶת הַוֶּרֶד וְהַשֶּׁמֶן מֻתָּר. כְּבָשׁוֹ בְּשֶׁמֶן שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית חַיָּב לְבַעֵר הַשֶּׁמֶן שֶׁהֲרֵי הַוֶּרֶד יָבֵשׁ הוּא וּכְבָר נִתְחַיֵּב בְּבִעוּר:
כסף משנה
21.
When a person pickles a rose from the Sabbatical year in the oil of the sixth year, he may gather the rose55And treat it with the holiness of the Sabbatical year. and it is permitted [to use] the oil [in an ordinary manner].56In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 7:7), the Rambam explains that since the oil is aged and the rose is fresh, the oil will not absorb the flavor of the rose unless it is left within it for a long time. Accordingly, the oil is considered as the produce of the sixth year. If he pickles [a rose] in the oil of the eighth year,57Since the rose is aged, its flavor will be absorbed by the oil immediately (ibid.). he is obligated to perform biyur with the oil. [The rationale is] at that time, the rose is dry and the obligation of biyur has already fallen upon it.הלכה כב
חָרוּבִין שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית שֶׁכְּבָשָׁן בְּיֵין שִׁשִּׁית אוֹ בְּיֵין מוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית חַיָּב לְבַעֵר הַיַּיִן. שֶׁהֲרֵי טַעַם פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית בּוֹ. זֶה הַכְּלָל פֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית שֶׁנִּתְעָרְבוּ בְּפֵרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת מִין בְּמִינוֹ בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא וְשֶׁלֹּא בְּמִינוֹ בְּנוֹתֵן טָעַם:
כסף משנה