When may a fruit tree NOT be cut down in Shemittah?
Never cut down a fruit tree — and Shemittah adds more
Shemittah fruit is for eatingcutting the tree destroys it
Another view: it robs the publicthe fruit belongs to everyone
A window when the tree is protected
From when may it not be cut?
Beis ShammaiOnce it puts forth fruit — every tree→ every tree alike, once it puts out fruit
Beis HillelCarobs — once they hang down Vines — once the seed forms Olives — once the blossom falls All other trees — once they put forth fruit→ it depends on the tree
Beis Hillel: each tree has its own stage
Permissivefrom when they form chains [of pods],
Carobs: once the pods hang in chains
Permissivefrom when they form berries,
Vines: once the seeds form
Permissivefrom when they blossom,
Olives: from the blossomBartenura: once it blossoms · others: once the blossom falls
Every other tree: once fruit appears
Ripe to the ma'aser stage: he may cut it
Permissiveone is permitted to cut it down.
→ permittedthe fruit can already be eaten
How little may an olive tree give, and still be cut?
Not only ShemittahBartenura: the Torah's ban on cutting a fruit tree (Devarim 20)
Tanna KammaA rova→ a quarter-kav of olives
Rabban Shimon ben GamlielIt all depends on the tree→ it depends on the size of the tree
Sheviis 4:10
Cutting Down Trees during Shemittah
קְצִיצַת אִילָנוֹת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית
מֵאֵימָתַי אֵין קוֹצְצִין אֶת הָאִילָן בַּשְּׁבִיעִית.
בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים, כָּל הָאִילָן מִשֶּׁיּוֹצִיא.
וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים,
הֶחָרוּבִין מִשֶּׁיְּשַׁלְשֵׁלוּ,
וְהַגְּפָנִים מִשֶּׁיְּגָרְעוּ,
וְהַזֵּיתִים מִשֶּׁיָּנֵצוּ,
וּשְׁאָר כָּל אִילָן מִשֶּׁיּוֹצִיא.
וְכָל הָאִילָן, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת, מֻתָּר לְקָצְצוֹ.
כַּמָּה יְהֵא בַזַּיִת וְלֹא יְקֻצֶּנּוּ,
רֹבַע.
רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, הַכֹּל לְפִי הַזַּיִת: