sabbatical

The reason then for the [permission to purchase a] lulav is that it is [the product of] the sixth year which entered the seventh, but if it were of the Sabbatical Year it would have been sacred? But why? ... Is it not just wood, and wood does not possess the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year, as it has been taught: ... Leaves of reeds and leaves of the vine which have been heaped up to store them upon a field: if they were gathered for [animal] food, they possess the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year, but if they were gathered for firewood, they do have not the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year.

The reason then for the [permission to purchase a] lulav is that it is [the product of] the sixth year which entered the seventh, but if it were of the Sabbatical Year it would have been sacred? But why? ... Is it not just wood, and wood does not possess the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year, as it has been taught: ... Leaves of reeds and leaves of the vine which have been heaped up to store them upon a field: if they were gathered for [animal] food, they possess the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year, but if they were gathered for firewood, they do have not the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year.

The reason then for the [permission to purchase a] lulav is that it is [the product of] the sixth year which entered the seventh, but if it were of the Sabbatical Year it would have been sacred? But why? ... Is it not just wood, and wood does not possess the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year, as it has been taught: ... Leaves of reeds and leaves of the vine which have been heaped up to store them upon a field: if they were gathered for [animal] food, they possess the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year, but if they were gathered for firewood, they do have not the sanctity of the Sabbatical Year.

There the case is different, since Scripture says, “For you for food” (Leviticus 25:6) thus comparing ‘for you’ to ‘for food’, [anything] whose benefit comes at the time of its consumption [has the sanctity of sabbatical produce]; this excludes firewood since the benefit from it comes after its consumption.

And the question of whether [the restrictions of the Sabbatical Year apply to] wood that is used for heating is a dispute between Tannas, as it has been taught: The produce of the Sabbatical Year may not be used either for steeping or for washing.R. Yose say: they may be so used.

And the question of whether [the restrictions of the Sabbatical Year apply to] wood that is used for heating is a dispute between Tannas, as it has been taught: The produce of the Sabbatical Year may not be used either for steeping or for washing.R. Yose say: they may be so used.

R. Elazar said: Sabbatical year produce is redeemed only by way of sale. But R. Yohanan said: Either by way of sale or by way of exchange. What is the reason of R. Elazar? As it is written, "In this year of Jubilee" (Leviticus 25:13) and then comes the following verse, "And if you sell something to your neighbor" [implying,] only by way of sale, but not by way of exchange.

And what is the reason of R. Yohanan? — Since it is written, "For it is a Jubilee, it shall be holy" (Leviticus 25:12); just as sacred objects can be redeemed either by way of sale or by way of exchange, so the produce of the Sabbatical Year can be redeemed either by way of sale or by way of exchange.

But what does R. Yohanan do with the verse, "And if you sell something to your neighbor"? He requires it in accordance with the statement of R. Yose b. Hanina, as it has been taught, R. Yose b. Hanina said: Come and see how serious is [even] the dust of the Sabbatical Year. A man merely trades with the produce of the Sabbatical Year, in the end he sells his movable property and his clothes, as it is said, "In this year of Jubilee you shall return, each man to his possessions" and then comes immediately, "And if you sell something to your neighbor etc."

But what does R. Yohanan do with the verse, "And if you sell something to your neighbor"? He requires it in accordance with the statement of R. Yose b. Hanina, as it has been taught, R. Yose b. Hanina said: Come and see how serious is [even] the dust of the Sabbatical Year. A man merely trades with the produce of the Sabbatical Year, in the end he sells his movable property and his clothes, as it is said, "In this year of Jubilee you shall return, each man to his possessions" and then comes immediately, "And if you sell something to your neighbor etc."

And R. Eleazar, what does he do with the verse of R. Yohanan? He needs it in accordance with what has been taught, "For it is a Jubilee, it shall be holy" (Leviticus 25:12) just as with holy objects the money [for which it is redeemed] assumes the same sanctity, so with the produce of the Sabbatical Year, the money [for which it is sold] assumes the same sanctity.

It has been taught in agreement with R. Elazar, and it has also been taught in agreement with R. Yohanan. It has been taught in agreement with R. Elazar: [In the case of produce of] the Sabbatical Year the money [for which it is exchanged] assumes the same sanctity [as the produce itself], for it is said, "For it is a Jubilee, it shall be holy to you" just as with holy objects the money [for which it is redeemed assumes] the sanctity [of the holy object], and becomes forbidden, so with the produce of the Sabbatical Year, the money [for which it is redeemed] assumes the same sanctity [as the produce] and becomes forbidden.

It has been taught in agreement with R. Elazar, and it has also been taught in agreement with R. Yohanan. It has been taught in agreement with R. Elazar: [In the case of produce of] the Sabbatical Year the money [for which it is exchanged] assumes the same sanctity [as the produce itself], for it is said, "For it is a Jubilee, it shall be holy to you" just as with holy objects the money [for which it is redeemed assumes] the sanctity [of the holy object], and becomes forbidden, so with the produce of the Sabbatical Year, the money [for which it is redeemed] assumes the same sanctity [as the produce] and becomes forbidden.

[But] in case [you would say] that just as, with holy objects, the money [for which it is redeemed] assumes its sanctity and [the holy object itself] becomes desacralized, so also with the produce of the Sabbatical Year, the money for which it is redeemed assumes its sanctity and the [produce itself] becomes desacralized, Scripture explicitly says, "It shall be"—it remains in its original [holy] state.

How so? If with the produce of the Sabbatical Year he purchased meat, both the meat and the produce must be removed during the Sabbatical Year. If, however, he purchased with the meat fish, the meat loses [the sanctity of the produce of the Sabbatical Year], and the fish assumes it. If he purchased with the fish wine, the fish loses [its sanctity], and the wine assumes it. If he purchased with the wine oil, the wine loses [its sanctity] and the oil assumes it.

How so? If with the produce of the Sabbatical Year he purchased meat, both the meat and the produce must be removed during the Sabbatical Year. If, however, he purchased with the meat fish, the meat loses [the sanctity of the produce of the Sabbatical Year], and the fish assumes it. If he purchased with the fish wine, the fish loses [its sanctity], and the wine assumes it. If he purchased with the wine oil, the wine loses [its sanctity] and the oil assumes it.

How so? If with the produce of the Sabbatical Year he purchased meat, both the meat and the produce must be removed during the Sabbatical Year. If, however, he purchased with the meat fish, the meat loses [the sanctity of the produce of the Sabbatical Year], and the fish assumes it. If he purchased with the fish wine, the fish loses [its sanctity], and the wine assumes it. If he purchased with the wine oil, the wine loses [its sanctity] and the oil assumes it.

How so? The last object [purchased] assumes [the sanctity] of the Sabbatical Year, but the produce itself always remains prohibited. Now since the term "purchased" is repeatedly used, it is evident that only by way of sale [does it become redeemed], but not by way of exchange.

It was taught in agreement with R. Yohanan: Both the produce of the Sabbatical Year and of Second Tithe may be redeemed with cattle, beast or fowl, whether live or slaughtered, the words of R. Meir. But the sages say: With slaughtered [animals and birds] they may be redeemed, but not with live ones, lest one rear flocks from them.

Ravina raised an objection against R. Ashi: [It has been taught]: If a man has a sela [gained through selling the produce of] the Sabbatical Year, and wishes to purchase with it a shirt, what should he do? Let him go to his regular shopkeeper and say to him, ‘Give me a sela worth of fruit’ and give it to him. Then he tells him, ‘Behold this fruit is given [back]] to you as a gift’, and [the shopkeeper] answers him, ‘And here is a gift for you of a sela.' And then he may purchase with it whatsoever he desires. Now here, surely, the sela is a secondary produce, and yet it teaches [that it may be redeemed only] by way of sale, and not by way of exchange?

Rather R. Ashi said: The dispute [of R. Elazar and R. Yohanan] is over secondary produce, but with regard to the original produce all agree that [it may be redeemed] only by way of sale, and not by way of exchange. "Both the produce of the Sabbatical Year and of the Second Tithe [may be redeemed by exchange]"— his refers to the money for which the produce is exchanged.

For if you do not say so, then "tithe" also must mean actual tithe. But surely it is written, "You shall bind the money in your hand? (Deuteronomy 14:21). Rather it must mean the money for which tithe [was exchanged], and so here also it means the money for which the produce of the Sabbatical Year [is exchanged].

Aibu stated: I was standing in the presence of R. Elazar b. Zadok. A certain man came before him and said to him: I have cities, vineyards and olive trees, and the inhabitants of the cities come and hoe the vineyards and eat the olives [on the Sabbatical year]. Is this proper or improper? [R. Yohanan] rules that indeed it is improper As the man was about to leave him and depart, [R. Elazar] said I have now lived in the land for forty years, and I have never seen a man walking in the paths of righteousness as this man. The man went back and said to him: ‘What should be done?’ He answered him: Abandon the olives to the poor and pay the workers for hoeing the vineyards

But is hoeing permitted [during the Sabbatical year]? Has it not in fact been taught: “But the seventh year let it rest and lie still” (Exodus 23:11), Let it rest” from hoeing and “lie still” from the removal of stones? R. Ukba b. Hama said: There are two kinds of hoeing; one consists in closing up the fissures and the other in aerating the soil. Aerating the soil is forbidden but closing up the fissures is permitted.

R. Papa said: The date (for the second rainfall) is of importance as regards walking through private property, for we read (Baba Ḳamma, 81a): One may walk through private property until the second rainfall. R. Naḥman b. Isaac said: It is of importance with regard to the removal of the fruits of the Sabbatical year, for we read (Shebi'it, 9.7): Until what time are we allowed to use or destroy the straw and stubble of the Sabbatical year? Until the second rainfall, as it is written (Lev., 25.7): "And for thy cattle and for the beasts that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be for food." This means to say that as long as the beasts find food in the field, you may feed your domestic animals from what there is in the house, but when there is nothing left in the field for the beasts, you must also stop feeding the cattle from what is in the house.

R. Papa said: The date (for the second rainfall) is of importance as regards walking through private property, for we read (Baba Ḳamma, 81a): One may walk through private property until the second rainfall. R. Naḥman b. Isaac said: It is of importance with regard to the removal of the fruits of the Sabbatical year, for we read (Shebi'it, 9.7): Until what time are we allowed to use or destroy the straw and stubble of the Sabbatical year? Until the second rainfall, as it is written (Lev., 25.7): "And for thy cattle and for the beasts that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be for food." This means to say that as long as the beasts find food in the field, you may feed your domestic animals from what there is in the house, but when there is nothing left in the field for the beasts, you must also stop feeding the cattle from what is in the house.

Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for rain for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for the cisterns, ditches, and caves it is sounded also during the Sabbatical year; Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel said, for the trees also we sound during the Sabbatical year, because they furnish a livelihood to the poor. Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for cisterns, ditches, and caves, it is sounded even during the Sabbatical year; R. Simeon b. Eleazar said, also for what grows of itself we sound during the Sabbatical year, because it furnishes a livelihood to the poor.

Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for rain for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for the cisterns, ditches, and caves it is sounded also during the Sabbatical year; Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel said, for the trees also we sound during the Sabbatical year, because they furnish a livelihood to the poor. Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for cisterns, ditches, and caves, it is sounded even during the Sabbatical year; R. Simeon b. Eleazar said, also for what grows of itself we sound during the Sabbatical year, because it furnishes a livelihood to the poor.

Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for rain for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for the cisterns, ditches, and caves it is sounded also during the Sabbatical year; Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel said, for the trees also we sound during the Sabbatical year, because they furnish a livelihood to the poor. Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for cisterns, ditches, and caves, it is sounded even during the Sabbatical year; R. Simeon b. Eleazar said, also for what grows of itself we sound during the Sabbatical year, because it furnishes a livelihood to the poor.

Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for rain for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for the cisterns, ditches, and caves it is sounded also during the Sabbatical year; Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel said, for the trees also we sound during the Sabbatical year, because they furnish a livelihood to the poor. Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for cisterns, ditches, and caves, it is sounded even during the Sabbatical year; R. Simeon b. Eleazar said, also for what grows of itself we sound during the Sabbatical year, because it furnishes a livelihood to the poor.

Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for rain for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for the cisterns, ditches, and caves it is sounded also during the Sabbatical year; Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel said, for the trees also we sound during the Sabbatical year, because they furnish a livelihood to the poor. Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for cisterns, ditches, and caves, it is sounded even during the Sabbatical year; R. Simeon b. Eleazar said, also for what grows of itself we sound during the Sabbatical year, because it furnishes a livelihood to the poor.

Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for rain for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for the cisterns, ditches, and caves it is sounded also during the Sabbatical year; Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel said, for the trees also we sound during the Sabbatical year, because they furnish a livelihood to the poor. Another Baraita teaches: The alarm is sounded for the trees during the six years of the Septenary (but not during the Sabbatical year); for cisterns, ditches, and caves, it is sounded even during the Sabbatical year; R. Simeon b. Eleazar said, also for what grows of itself we sound during the Sabbatical year, because it furnishes a livelihood to the poor.

(On the ninth of Ab) the second Temple was destroyed. Whence is this known? It is taught in a Baraita: R. Jose said, fortunate events are assigned to a lucky day, but calamities are assigned to an unlucky day. It was reported that when the Temple was destroyed for the first time it was on the ninth of Ab which happened to be on a Sunday, while the year was one following immediately upon a sabbatical year; further it was in the week in which the division of priests from the house of Jehojarib was on duty; the Levites were standing on their platform. [What song did they intone? They sang the verse (Ps., 94. 23): "And He hath brought upon them their own iniquity, and will cut them off in their own evil;" but before they were able to add the words: "The Lord our God will cut them off," the heathen came in and subdued them.] All this happened also in the second Temple.

GEMARA: R' Yehudah said, Shmuel said, the Sabbatical year clears a ten-year loan.

R' Kahana responds, We assess how much a person would give to have the one thousand zuz in his hand in thirty days instead of ten years. If you were to say the Sabbatical year cancels all debts, then the false witnesses would have to pay the whole debt.

Rava said, maybe it's in the case of the lending on collateral, or if he gives documentation to the court As we have learnt, a loan on collateral or where documentation is given to the court is not cancelled [by the Sabbatical].

R' Kahana said, we also learnt, 'We assess how much he would pay to have the thousand zuz in his possession in thirty days instead of a ten years.' and if you were to say that the Sabbatical cancels the loan, the witnesses would have to pay the whole debt.

Rava said, it's in the case of a loan on collateral or when the loan is transferred to the court. as we learnt, A loan on collateral or transferred to the court is not cancelled by the Sabbatical.

And R' Yehudah said in the name of R' Shmuel, He says to his fellow, [I will lend money] only on condition that the Sabbatical year does not cancel, the Sabbatical still cancels. Is this to say that Shmuel explains this as a condition that is against the Torah? And all conditions that contradict the Torah are null and void.

And R' Yehudah said in the name of R' Shmuel, He says to his fellow, [I will lend money] only on condition that the Sabbatical year does not cancel, the Sabbatical still cancels. Is this to say that Shmuel explains this as a condition that is against the Torah? And all conditions that contradict the Torah are null and void.

Here also, on condition that you do not cancel the debt, the Sabbatical does not cancel. On condition that there is no Sabbatical, the Sabbatical does cancel.

Here also, on condition that you do not cancel the debt, the Sabbatical does not cancel. On condition that there is no Sabbatical, the Sabbatical does cancel.

Here also, on condition that you do not cancel the debt, the Sabbatical does not cancel. On condition that there is no Sabbatical, the Sabbatical does cancel.

There is a case of where on plows a single row, and is liable on it due to eight separate prohibitions. One who [1]plows with an ox and a donkey, [2,3]which are sanctified, over [4]mixed seeds in a vineyard [5]on the sabbatical year, [6]on a holiday, and he is a [7]Kohen and a [8]Nazir in a house of tumah.