Page 119 - cRc Pesach Guide 2021

Rabbi Dovid Cohen
Administrative Rabbinic Coordinator

SHEMITTAH

5782

In the last 200 years, as Jews have once again settled Eretz GENERAL HALACHOS
Yisroel, we have had the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvos The following is a brief overview of the basic halachos of
of shemittah, the Sabbatical year. Most of the halachos of shemittah:
shemittah relate to farmers in Eretz Yisroel and those who use
their produce, and this article will focus on those areas which 1. Working the ground
relate to those living out of Eretz Yisroel. One may not plow, plant, prune, water, or otherwise
cultivate items growing in Eretz Yisroel. 1
WHEN IS SHEMITTAH 2. Rights to the produce

The next shemittah year will be in the Jewish year 5782, Produce of the shemittah year is free for anyone to take,
which corresponds with September 7, 2021 to September and the owner of the land may not restrict others from
25, 2022. The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 13b) tells us that the doing so. 2
defining point as to whether an item is considered produce Most contemporary Poskim rule that if someone works
of the shemittah year depends on whether one is discussing the ground during shemittah or restricts others from
a vegetable, grain, or fruit. For vegetables, the defining taking shemittah produce (דבענו רמושמ), the produce itself
point for vegetables is harvest, which means that a pepper remains permitted, despite the person’s violation of the
harvested after September 7, 2021 is considered a shemittah halacha. Therefore, although a visitor to Eretz Yisroel must
3
pepper, even if it was planted and grew before shemittah. The be careful not to personally work the ground or restrict
defining point for grains is when they reach 1/3 maturation, others from taking produce, these two prohibitions are
and most fruits are judged by when they reach chanatah (an of little consequence for consumers purchasing Israeli
early stage in the fruit’s development). Where this article products abroad. In contrast, the following three halachos
refers to “shemittah produce”, it will follow these criteria.
are quite relevant even in the United States.
As such, fresh shemittah vegetables will be on the market at 3. Kedushas shevi’is
the end of 2021, but shemittah fruits will not be for sale until
the latter part of 2022. Processed foods, with an extended Fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, spices, and even certain
shelf life, such as wine and canned goods, will be on the flowers, which are shemittah produce are endowed with
market well into 2023, and possibly even beyond that point. a holiness known as “kedushas shevi’is” and, therefore,
Therefore, although the shemittah year lasts for one year, it cannot be wasted, used for an atypical purpose, bought
affects consumers well beyond that time. and sold in the traditional manner, or taken out of Eretz
Yisrael. If food with kedushas shevi’is is sold, the money
4
used in the transaction also acquires kedushah (and the
food retains its original kedushah). That money must be
used to purchase food items, at which point the kedushah
transfers off the money and onto the foods (and those
foods must be treated with kedushas shevi’is). 5

cRc Pesach Guide Seasonal Articles and Other Highlights www.ASKcRc.org / www.cRcweb.org 117