Q&A on Shemitah - Your Questions, Answers from Hidabroot Rabbis

What is the Shemitah commandment? What should we do and what should we be careful about?

There are many prohibitions and commandments related to Shemitah. But if we were to explain them briefly, we would start with the fact that it is forbidden to sow and plant – and in general, it is forbidden to perform actions that would grow and enhance the land's produce during the Shemitah year. What is permitted, though with certain limitations, are actions that preserve the existing state to avoid loss. Additionally, there is a Torah commandment to declare fruit tree produce of the seventh year as ownerless for everyone, and it is forbidden to preserve the produce as in other years. It is forbidden to trade in Shemitah fruits.

What is the reason we observe the Shemitah year?

The reason for this, as written in Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 84): 1. Among the roots of this commandment is to establish in our hearts and strongly visualize in our thoughts the concept of the world's creation, as "in six days Hashem made heaven and earth" [Exodus 20:11], and on the seventh day when He created nothing, He attributed rest to Himself.

And to remove, uproot, and eliminate from our thoughts the idea of the world's eternity, which non-believers in the Torah believe, and by which they destroy all its cornerstones and break down its walls, we are obligated to spend all our time, day by day and year by year, on this matter – to count six years and rest in the seventh. Thus, the concept will never be separated from before our eyes, similar to how we count the days of the week with six days of work and one day of rest.

2. Therefore, the Blessed One commanded to make ownerless everything the land produces in this year, besides resting it, so that a person will remember that the land which produces fruits for him every year does not do so by its own power and virtue, because there is a Master over it and over its owners. And when He desires, He commands to make them ownerless.

3. There is also benefit in this to acquire the quality of generosity, as there is no one more generous than he who gives without hope for reward.

4. And there is yet another benefit found in this, that a person will increase his trust in the Blessed Name, for anyone who finds it in his heart to give and declare ownerless forever all the produce of his lands and ancestral inheritance that grows in one year, and is accustomed to this – he and his whole family all his days – the quality of extreme stinginess and lack of trust will never strengthen in him. These are his words.

The reason a person is commanded to observe Shemitah is to remember that there is Someone who manages the world, and not everything is accomplished through 'his own strength and might.'

During the Shemitah year, is it permissible to buy fruits from a non-Jew's field?

Since non-Jews were not commanded about Shemitah - a field owned by a non-Jew does not need to rest during the Shemitah year, and we have no reason to avoid buying its fruits.

Is it permissible to water potted plants during the Shemitah year?

For a potted plant placed in an enclosed space like inside a house, there are no restrictions on watering it. However, for a potted plant placed outside, such as a window box - one should not saturate it with water, but rather water it with the minimum amount necessary for the plant's survival.

Is it permissible to eat fruits and vegetables from the Land of Israel during the Shemitah year?

Fruits and vegetables grown in the Land of Israel under conditions that observed Shemitah laws are permitted to be eaten. But those grown under conditions where Shemitah was not observed are forbidden to eat, therefore one should be careful to buy fruits and vegetables only with proper kosher certification.

Is it permissible to pick produce from a field that someone did not declare ownerless, or is that theft?

The authorities are divided on this. According to halacha, it is permitted to take even without the declaration of ownerlessness.