Shmita Year: Introduction and General Background

In the Torah, there are several verses discussing the Shmita year, which are:

Leviticus 25:1-8

And Hashem spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you come into the land which I give you, the land shall observe a Shabbat to Hashem. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in its produce. But in the seventh year, there shall be a complete rest for the land, a Shabbat to Hashem; you shall not sow your field, nor shall you prune your vineyard. You shall not reap the aftergrowth of your harvest nor gather the grapes of your untrimmed vines; it shall be a year of complete rest for the land. And the Shabbat produce of the land shall be yours to eat, for you, for your male and female servants, for your hired workers and residents who live with you. And for your cattle and for the wild animals in your land, shall all its produce be to eat.

Exodus 23:10-11

And six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce. But the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Deuteronomy 15:1-3

At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because Hashem's release has been proclaimed. Of a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.

Which Commandments Are Observed During the Shmita Year

During the Shmita year, three general commandments are observed:

The commandment to cease from working the land and trees:

Positive commandment - to rest from working the land and trees

Negative commandment - not to work the land or trees

The commandment of fruit release

The commandment of monetary release

Is the Shmita Commandment Today from the Torah or Rabbinic?

The opinion of most authorities is that the Shmita commandment in our time is only rabbinic.

One of the implications of this law is in cases of doubt, for example: a person visiting a family, who doesn't know if the vegetables or fruits served are permissible to eat or not. Since Shmita today is rabbinic, we are lenient in cases of rabbinic doubt, and therefore, if one can clarify the kosher status of these fruits, they should do so. If it is not easily possible to clarify the matter, one may be lenient and eat these fruits based on the principle "safek d'rabbanan l'kula" (a doubt in rabbinic law is ruled leniently).

Where Are Shmita Laws Observed

In the Land of Israel: All Shmita laws apply (cessation of land work and tree maintenance, release of produce, and monetary release)

Outside of Israel: Only the law of monetary release applies

What is Considered the Land of Israel for Shmita Purposes

In our history, there were several conquests of the Land of Israel: the conquest by those who came up from Egypt, and the conquest by those who came up from Babylon. There is a dispute about which parts of the Land of Israel are obligated in Shmita laws and which are not, therefore:

Since there is a dispute among authorities about which parts of the Land of Israel are obligated in Shmita laws, one should not be lenient in any part of the Land of Israel, and should observe all Shmita laws in all parts of the Land of Israel.

Eilat - is considered outside of Israel for the purpose of Shmita laws, and therefore Shmita laws are not observed there. However, regarding tithes and offerings, it is considered the Land of Israel (this law is subject to dispute among authorities; we rule according to the method of the book "Yalkut Yosef").

Syria - In lands belonging to Jews, some Shmita laws are observed, but in land owned by non-Jews in Syria, no Shmita laws are observed at all.

In the Golan, as well as in the eastern bank of the Jordan, some Shmita laws are observed, such as the prohibition of working the land and trees, but the laws of aftergrowth do not apply in these places.

In the southern Golan, all Shmita laws are observed, such as the prohibition of working the land and trees, as well as the prohibition of aftergrowth.

For any questions, it is highly recommended to consult with Torah scholars who are knowledgeable in this subject.

Is the Jubilee Commandment Observed Today

The Jubilee commandment is not observed at all in our time, even though the Shmita commandment is observed.

Reciting "Tikkun Rachel" and "Tikkun Leah" in the Shmita Year

In the Land of Israel: We do not recite Tikkun Rachel but only Tikkun Leah.

Outside of Israel: We recite both Tikkun Rachel and Tikkun Leah.

The "Shehecheyanu" Blessing for Shmita

When reciting the Shehecheyanu blessing during the Kiddush on Rosh Hashanah night, it is proper to have in mind the fulfillment of the commandments of the Shmita year as well.