Wine Removal

Chanoch from Achuzat Brachfeld asks: I received a lot of sh’mittah wine for Purim. I know that the time for bi’ur on wine is Erev Pesach. What quantity of wine is exempt from bi’ur? How do I perform bi’ur on the wine? If, when Erev Pesach arrives, a person only has in his possession enough…

Unholy Bananas

Chayim from Kiryat Sefer asks: You wrote last week that vegetables picked in the eighth year still have kedushas shvi’is and could be subject to the laws of s’fichin. Do these laws also apply to bananas picked in the eighth year? Bananas are not subject to the prohibition of s’fichin. However, those which are picked…

Melon Melancholy

Avi from New York asks: My wife is crazy about melons. Our local fruit store had a special offer on "Spanish" honeydew melons, which is her favourite. I bought a large quantity of this luscious fruit as a treat for our wedding anniversary. When I got home, I noticed that the label on each and…

Private Gardens

I have sh’mitta produce growing in my garden, which is inaccessible from the street. Do I have to declare the produce hefker, or is it automatically hefker? May I also take from the hefker produce? There is a difference of opinion as to whether sh’mittah produce is automatically hefker (Mabit/Maharit) or if one needs to…

Can Care

Rochel from Romema asks: I bought my usual brand of canned pickles at the local strictly kosher supermarket. However, when I arrived home I noticed that the cans contained non-Jewish produce. We follow the opinion of the Chazon Ish. Is there anything special I have to do with these pickles? The time for bi’ur on…

Vegetable Awareness

Gittel from Gush Shmonim asks: I always thought that the kedushas shvi’is status of vegetables was determined by the time of picking. If so, why do we still have to be careful about vegetables now? Your basic premise is correct. Vegetables picked in the sh’mittah year have kedushas shvi’is. Those which grow by themselves (or…

Up The Garden Path

Chanoch from Ramat Shlomo asks: The path running across my garden is disintegrating. The stones are loose and I am concerned that it is unsafe to walk on the path. Is there any way I can lay a new path in the sh’mittah year? Only agricultural work is forbidden during the sh’mittah year. It is…

Purim And Sh’mittah

Mordechai from Givat Sha’ul asks: Since Purim is approaching, I would like to know if I may send sh’mittah wine and fruit for mishloach monos. It is forbidden to repay a debt using sh’mittah produce (Tractate Avoda Zoro 62a). The Torah stipulates that sh’mittah produce is meant to be eaten—and not to be traded in….

Esrog Jam

Leib from Har Nof asks: My wife made esrog jam out of kedushas shvi’is esrogim. Do we have to perform bi’ur on this jam and if so, when? There is a difference of opinion as to whether the esrog requires bi’ur at all. Some hold that since it remains on the tree from year to…