Wild plants — and sefichin
what grew by itself in Shemittah
Sefichin: from seed that fell — not planted
Rue, wild amaranth, purslane, hill coriander, river celery, meadow cress
Permissiveare exempt
→ no ma'asros: they are hefker
Permissiveand may be bought
→ bought from anyone in Shemittahno one guards them
Reasonsince their like is not [normally] guarded.
Guarded produce may not be bought
From an am ha'aretz: a few meals' worth only
Sefichin: Chazal forbade them
lest people plant, and say it grew by itself
Most: a gezeira d'rabbanan
Which sefichin may be eaten?
Rabbi YehudaSefichin of mustard — mutar→ only mustard: no one plants it in secret
Mutar / assur — to eat (most) · to buy (Rambam) · kedusha (Rabbeinu Tam)
Rabbi ShimonAll sefichin — mutar, except sefichin of cabbage→ cabbage never grows wild
ChachamimAll sefichin — assur→ no exceptions
Sheviis 9:1
Sefichin and Wild Plants
גִּדּוּלֵי בָּר וּסְפִיחִין
הַפֵּגָם, וְהַיַּרְבּוּזִין הַשּׁוֹטִים, וְהַחֲלַגְלוֹגִית, כֻּסְבָּר שֶׁבֶּהָרִים, וְהַכַּרְפַּס שֶׁבַּנְּהָרוֹת, וְהַגַּרְגֵּר שֶׁל אֲפָר,
פְּטוּרִין מִן הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת,
וְנִלְקָחִין מִכָּל אָדָם בַּשְּׁבִיעִית,
שֶׁאֵין כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהֶם נִשְׁמָר.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, סְפִיחֵי חַרְדָּל, מֻתָּרִין, שֶׁלֹּא נֶחְשְׁדוּ עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹבְרֵי עֲבֵרָה.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, כָּל הַסְּפִיחִין מֻתָּרִין, חוּץ מִסְּפִיחֵי כְרוּב, שֶׁאֵין כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהֶם בְּיַרְקוֹת שָׂדֶה.
וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, כָּל הַסְּפִיחִין אֲסוּרִין: