Mishneh Torah — Shemittah & Yovel הלכות שמיטה ויובל, Chapter 1

מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לִשְׁבֹּת מֵעֲבוֹדַת הָאָרֶץ וַעֲבוֹדַת הָאִילָן בְּשָׁנָה שְׁבִיעִית שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה ב) "וְשָׁבְתָה הָאָרֶץ שַׁבָּת לַה'" וְנֶאֱמַר (שמות לד כא) "בֶּחָרִישׁ וּבַקָּצִיר תִּשְׁבֹּת". וְכָל הָעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה מֵעֲבוֹדַת הָאָרֶץ אוֹ הָאִילָנוֹת בְּשָׁנָה זוֹ בִּטֵּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה וְעָבַר עַל לֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה ד) "שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרָע וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תִזְמֹר":

It is a positive commandment to rest from performing agricultural work or work with trees (positive commandment 135) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 112) includes this commandment among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah.There is a difference of opinion among the commentaries if the mitzvah is incumbent on the gavra (the person himself) or on the land (the cheftza, the object). The commentaries note that the Rambam's wording in this halachah indicates that the mitzvah is on the person, he should rest. Nevertheless, the wording he uses when enumerating the mitzvot - that "the land should rest" - puts the emphasis on the land. in the Sabbatical year, as [Leviticus 25:2] states: "And the land will rest like a Sabbath unto God" and [Exodus 34:21] states: "You shall rest with regard to plowing and harvesting.": that the Rambam will occasionally favor the understanding of a verse proposed by the Jerusalem Talmud even though the Babylonian Talmud interprets it otherwise. To explain: the Babylonian Talmud (Mo'ed Kattan 4a) inteprets this verse as a prohibition to work the land on the Sabbath. It is the Jerusalem Talmud (Sh'vi'it 1:3) which understands it as referring to the Sabbatical year.From Chapter 4, Halachah 1, it appears that here the Rambam is speaking of harvesting for the sake of improving the land, not for gathering its crops. The intent appears to be that harvesting produce will enable the land to produce better produce in the future.When a person performs any labor upon the land or with trees during this year, he nullifies the observance of this positive commandment and violates a negative commandment, (negative commandment 220) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 326) include this commandment among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah. as [Leviticus 25:4] states: "Do not sow your field and do not trim your vineyard."

אֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל הַזְּרִיעָה אוֹ עַל הַזְּמִירָה וְעַל הַקְּצִירָה אוֹ עַל הַבְּצִירָה. וְאֶחָד הַכֶּרֶם וְאֶחָד שְׁאָר הָאִילָנוֹת:

According to Scriptural Law, a person is not liable for lashes except for [the following labors] sowing, trimming, harvesting [grain], and harvesting fruit - both from vineyards and from other trees. whose root is used in Leviticus 25:5 is usually employed specifically with regard to harvesting grapes. Nevertheless, in a wider sense, it refers to harvesting any fruit.

וּזְמִירָה בִּכְלַל זְרִיעָה וּבְצִירָה בִּכְלַל קְצִירָה. וְלָמָּה פֵּרְטָן הַכָּתוּב לוֹמַר לְךָ עַל שְׁתֵּי תּוֹלָדוֹת אֵלּוּ בִּלְבַד הוּא חַיָּב וְעַל שְׁאָר הַתּוֹלָדוֹת שֶׁבַּעֲבוֹדַת הָאָרֶץ עִם שְׁאָר הָאָבוֹת שֶׁלֹּא נִתְפָּרְשׁוּ בְּעִנְיָן זֶה אֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה עֲלֵיהֶן. אֲבָל מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת:

Trimming is considered in the category of sowing. And harvesting fruit is considered in the category of harvesting grain. If so, why did the Torah single them out? To teach that one is liable [for lashes] for performing these two derivatives alone. For the other derivatives that involve working the land and the other major categories of labor that were not mentioned explicitly [by the Torah] in this context, one is not liable for lashes. He is, however, given stripes for rebellious conduct.

כֵּיצַד. הַחוֹפֵר אוֹ הַחוֹרֵשׁ לְצֹרֶךְ הַקַּרְקַע אוֹ הַמְסַקֵּל אוֹ הַמְזַבֵּל וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן מִשְּׁאָר עֲבוֹדַת הָאָרֶץ. וְכֵן הַמַּבְרִיךְ אוֹ הַמַּרְכִּיב אוֹ הַנּוֹטֵעַ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן מֵעֲבוֹדַת הָאִילָנוֹת. מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת מִדִּבְרֵיהֶן:

What is implied? When a person digs or plows 3a uses techniques of Biblical exegesis to show that other labors are forbidden, the Rambam considers these teachings merely as asmachteot, citing a verse as support for a concept forbidden by Rabbinic Law. for the sake of the land, removes stones, fertilizes the land, or performs another similar type of work on the land or extends, grafts, plants, or performs other similar types of work with trees, he is given stripes for rebellious conduct.

אֵין נוֹטְעִין בַּשְּׁבִיעִית אֲפִלּוּ אִילַן סְרָק. וְלֹא יַחְתֹּךְ הַיִּבּוֹלֶת מִן הָאִילָנוֹת. וְלֹא יְפָרֵק הֶעָלִין וְהַבַּדִּים הַיְבֵשִׁים. וְלֹא יְאַבֵּק אֶת צַמַּרְתּוֹ בָּאָבָק. וְלֹא יְעַשֵּׁן תַּחְתָּיו כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּמוּת הַתּוֹלַעַת. וְלֹא יָסוּךְ אֶת הַנְּטִיעוֹת בְּדָבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ זוֹהֲמָא כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל אוֹתוֹ הָעוֹף כְּשֶׁהוּא רַךְ. וְלֹא יָסוּךְ אֶת הַפַּגִּין. וְלֹא יִנְקֹב אוֹתָן. וְלֹא יִכְרֹךְ אֶת הַנְּטִיעוֹת. וְלֹא יִקְטֹם אוֹתָם. וְלֹא יְפַסֵּג אֶת הָאִילָנוֹת. וְכֵן שְׁאָר כָּל עֲבוֹדַת הָאִילָן. וְאִם עָשָׂה אַחַת מֵאֵלּוּ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת:

We do not plant even non-fruit-bearing trees in the Sabbatical year. Nor may one cut an abnormal outgrowth from a tree, remove dried leaves and branches, apply dust to the top of a tree, 2:2), the Rambam writes that this is beneficial for certain trees. or smoke a tree so that worms [that infest it] die. [Similarly,] one should not apply a foul-smelly potion to plants so that birds will not eat them when they are soft. One should not apply oil to unripened fruit, nor should one perforate them.:5). One should not bind plants,:6). nor trim them, nor prepare a support for a tree or perform any other work with trees. If one performs any of these labors in the Sabbatical year, he is given stripes for rebellious conduct.

אֵין מְצִיתִין אֶת הָאוּר בְּאִישַׁת הַקָּנִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא עֲבוֹדַת קַרְקַע. וְאֵין מְלַמְּדִין אֶת הַפָּרָה לַחְרשׁ אֶלָּא בְּחוֹל. וְאֵין בּוֹדְקִין אֶת הַזְּרָעִים בְּעָצִיץ מָלֵא עָפָר אֲבָל בּוֹדְקִין אוֹתָן בְּעָצִיץ מָלֵא גְּלָלִים. וְשׁוֹרִין אֶת הַזְּרָעִים בַּשְּׁבִיעִית כְּדֵי לְזָרְעָן בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית. וּמְקַיְּמִין הָאִלוּיֵי בְּרֹאשׁ הַגַּג אֲבָל אֵין מַשְׁקִין אוֹתוֹ:

One may not light a fire in an overgrowth of reeds, because this is considered as working the land. We train a cow to plow only in sand. We do not test [the viability of] seeds in a flowerpot full of earth, but we may test them in a flowerpot full of dung. One may soak seeds in the Sabbatical year in order to plant them in the following year. We maintain aloe plants on top of the roof, but we do not water them.

סוֹקְרִין אֶת הָאִילָן בְּסִקְרָא. וְטוֹעֲנִין אוֹתוֹ בַּאֲבָנִים וְעוֹדְרִין תַּחַת הַגְּפָנִים. וְהַמְקַשְׁקֵשׁ בְּזֵיתִים אִם לְהַבְרוֹת אֶת הָאִילָן אָסוּר וְאִם לִסְתֹּם אֶת הַפְּצִימִים מֻתָּר:

We may apply red paint to a tree 78a states that this is intended to attract notice to the tree and cause people to pray that its fruit do not fall prematurely. This is permitted because it does not involve caring for the tree. and we may load it with stones.). Since it weakens the tree, it is permitted. We may hoe under vines and under olive trees. quotes Rashi (Mo'ed Kattan 3a) who explains that the words oder and kishkush - used by hthe Rambam in this halachah - are synonymous. The difference is only with regard to the type of plants. If [these activities are intended] to make the trees flourish, they are forbidden. If they are intended to close their cracks, it is permitted.

מַשְׁקִין בֵּית הַשְּׁלָחִין בַּשְּׁבִיעִית וְהִיא שְׂדֵה הַזְּרִיעָה שֶׁצְּמֵאָה בְּיוֹתֵר. וְכֵן שְׂדֵה הָאִילָנוֹת אִם הָיוּ מְרֻחָקִין זֶה מִזֶּה יֶתֶר מֵעֶשֶׂר לְבֵית סְאָה מוֹשְׁכִין אֶת הַמַּיִם מֵאִילָן לְאִילָן. אֲבָל לֹא יַשְׁקוּ אֶת כָּל הַשָּׂדֶה. וְאִם הָיוּ מְקֹרָבִין זֶה לָזֶה עֶשֶׂר לְבֵית סְאָה מַשְׁקִין כָּל הַשָּׂדֶה בִּשְׁבִילָן. וְכֵן עֲפַר הַלָּבָן מַרְבִּיצִין אוֹתוֹ בְּמַיִם בַּשְּׁבִיעִית בִּשְׁבִיל הָאִילָנוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יִפָּסְדוּ:

We may irrigate a beit hashilechin, i.e., a field that is sown [with grain] that is very arid, in the Sabbatical year. Similarly, we may cause water to flow from one tree to another in an orchard if there were ten trees dispersed in an area larger than that necessary to sow a se'ah [of grain]. 16:3 defines an area in which a se'ah of grain is sown as 50 cubits by 50 cubits. This leniency is permitted to make sure that the trees do not die. One should not, however, irrigate the entire orchard. If they are closer to each other than that, one may irrigate the entire orchard for them.Similarly, [when trees grow in] a field where they are planted distant from each other, 2:10). we can sprinkle the earth with water for the sake of the trees that they will not be ruined.

וְעוֹשִׂין עוּגִיּוֹת לַגְּפָנִים. וְעוֹשִׂין אֶת אַמַּת הַמַּיִם כַּתְּחִלָּה וּמְמַלְּאִין אֶת הַנְּקָעִים מַיִם:

One may dig a pit at the roots of a grapevine [to collect water]. 1:1). One may make an irrigation ditch at the outset and one may fill the water reservoirs 5:4). with water.

וּמִפְּנֵי מָה הִתִּירוּ כָּל אֵלֶּה. שֶׁאִם לֹא יַשְׁקֶה תֵּעָשֶׂה הָאָרֶץ מְלֵחָה וְיָמוּת כָּל עֵץ שֶׁבָּהּ. וְהוֹאִיל וְאִסּוּר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶם מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם לֹא גָּזְרוּ עַל אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין אָסוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא אוֹתָן שְׁנֵי אָבוֹת וּשְׁתֵּי תּוֹלָדוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶם כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

Why were all these activities allowed? For if he will not irrigate [the field], the land will become parched and all the trees in it will die. Since the prohibition against these activities and the like is Rabbinic in origin, they did not impose their decrees in these instances. For according to Scriptural Law, a prohibition applies only to the two primary categories and their two derivatives, as explained.

מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הָאַנָּסִין וְהִטִּילוּ מַלְכֵי עַכּוּ"ם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת מַחֲנוֹת לְחֵילוֹתֵיהֶן הִתִּירוּ לִזְרֹעַ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית דְּבָרִים שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לָהֶם עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבַד. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁכְּפָאוֹ אַנָּס לַעֲשׂוֹת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית בְּחִנָּם כְּמוֹ עֲבוֹדַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹשֶׂה:

When the number of those who impose their desires by force increased and the gentile kings required the Jews to supply food. The standard publish text follows a slightly different version. for their soldiers, [the Sages] permitted [the people] to sow only those crops that are necessary for the servants of the king alone. Similarly, if a person of force compelled someone to perform labor in the Sabbatical year without pay, for the service of the king or the like, he may do so.).The Kessef Mishneh emphasizes that this leniency is granted only when the person does not receive payment for his activity. He is forbidden to take payment, even if he is being compelled for then a person could perform such labors and excuse himself, claiming that he was compelled to do so.

הַנּוֹטֵעַ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית בֵּין בְּשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין בְּמֵזִיד יַעֲקֹר. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל חֲשׁוּדִין עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית. אִם תֹּאמַר בְּשׁוֹגֵג יְקַיֵּם יֹאמַר הַמֵּזִיד שׁוֹגֵג הָיִיתִי:

When a person plants [crops] during the Sabbatical year whether in inadvertent or willful violation, he should uproot them, because the Jews are suspect with regard to [the prohibitions of the] Sabbatical year. If we would allow a person who [sowed] inadvertently to keep the crops, a person who [sowed] intentionally would say: "I did so inadvertently." 2:3 contrasts sowing on the Sabbath with sowing during the Sabbatical year, explaining that the Jews are not suspect to violate the Sabbath. Hence, the results of the inadvertent violation of the Sabbath laws are not forbidden.

הַחוֹרֵשׁ אֶת שָׂדֵהוּ אוֹ נָרָהּ אוֹ זִבְּלָהּ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה יָפָה לִזְרִיעָה בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית קוֹנְסִין אוֹתוֹ וְלֹא יִזְרָעֶנָּה בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית. וְאֵין חוֹכְרִין אוֹתָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ כְּדֵי לְזָרְעָהּ אֶלָּא תְּהִי בּוּרָה לְפָנָיו. וְאִם מֵת יִזְרָעֶנָּה בְּנוֹ:

When one plows his field, breaks its ground,, based on the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Sh'vi'it 4:3, Pe'ah 2:1). The term differs from plowing in that it is a far less thorough activity. See Rashi's gloss to Jeremiah 4:3 which explains that it refers primarily to the removal of weeds, thorns, and the like. or fertilizes it 4:2), the Rambam explains that this applies even if the field is fertilized by making it a corral for animals, so that their manure will fertilize it and improve its quality.in the Sabbatical year so that it will be better to sow in the following year, we penalize him and [prohibit] him from sowing it in the following year. He may not hire it out to others. Instead, he must leave it fallow. If he dies, however, his son may sow it.

הַמַּעֲבִיר קוֹצִים מֵאַרְצוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית כְּדֵי לְתַקְּנָהּ לְמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית. אוֹ שֶׁסִּקֵּל מִמֶּנָּה אֲבָנִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי לֹא קָנְסוּ אוֹתוֹ וּמֻתָּר לוֹ לְזָרְעָהּ בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית:

When a person removes thorns from his field in the Sabbatical year to improve it for the following year or removes stones from it, even though he is forbidden to do so, we do not penalize him. He is permitted to sow it in the following year.

הַטּוֹמֵן לֶפֶת וּצְנוֹנוֹת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן בַּשְּׁבִיעִית אִם הָיוּ מִקְצָת הֶעָלִין מְגֻלִּין אֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ וְאִם לָאו אָסוּר. הַטּוֹמֵן אֶת הַלּוּף וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן לֹא יִפְחֹת מֵאַרְבַּע קַבִּים עַל גֹּבַהּ טֶפַח וְטֶפַח עָפָר עַל גַּבָּיו. וְטוֹמְנוֹ בִּמְקוֹם דְּרִיסַת הָאָדָם כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִצְמַח. וּמֻתָּר לְמָרֵס בְּאֹרֶז בַּשְּׁבִיעִית אֲבָל לֹא יְכַסֵּחַ:

[The following laws apply when a person] buries turnips, radishes, and the like in the Sabbatical year. If some of their leaves were revealed, he need not be concerned. 1:9)]. If not, it is forbidden. When someone buries wild onions or the like, he should place at least four kabbim in the height of a handbreadth (Sh'vi'it 5:2)]. and place a handbreadth of earth above them. He should bury them in a place where people walk so that they will not grow.It is permitted to rip off the protruding stalks of rice in the Sabbatical year, 2:10). There the Rambam explains the term yichsech, but does not explain the term mereis. The Radbaz and the Kessef Mishneh interpret the latter term as meaning that it is permitted to sprinkle water on the rice plants. The contrast to the following clause supports Rav Kappach's interpretation. but one should not cut them off.

בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים מְלַקֵּט אָדָם עֵצִים וַאֲבָנִים וַעֲשָׂבִים מִתּוֹךְ שָׂדֵהוּ. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּטּל הַגַּס הַגַּס כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְכַּוֵּן לְנַקּוֹת הָאָרֶץ. אֲבָל מִשְּׂדֵה חֲבֵרוֹ נוֹטֵל בֵּין דַּק בֵּין גַּס. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ עוֹבְרֵי עֲבֵרָה שֶׁמִּתְכַּוְּנִין לְנַקּוֹת וְאוֹמְרִין הַגַּס הַגַּס אָנוּ נוֹטְלִין. אָסְרוּ לִטּל אָדָם מִשָּׂדֵהוּ אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ שְׂדֵה חֲבֵרוֹ וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יְלַקֵּט בְּטוֹבָה. שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר לוֹ רְאֵה כַּמָּה טוֹב עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ שֶׁהֲרֵי נִקֵּיתִי שָׂדְךָ:

At the outset, [the Rabbis] would say: A person may gather wood, stones, and grass from his field, provided he takes the larger ones 6:11; Sh'vi'it 4:1)]. alone, so that his intent is not to clear the land, but from his colleague's field, he may take small and larger pieces. When there was an increase in the number of transgressors, i.e., people who intended to clear their fields, but would excuse themselves, saying: "We are only taking the larger pieces," they forbade a person from gathering wood and stones from his own field, [permitting this] only from a colleague's field. Even then, [the leniency was granted] only when he does not do so in order that he exchange the favor, 4:1). There he emphasizes that the person clearing the field is expecting something in return. i.e., he does not tell his colleague: "See how much of a favor I did for you, for I have cleared your field."

הָיְתָה בְּהֶמְתּוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ שָׂדֵהוּ מְלַקֵּט וּמֵבִיא לְפָנֶיהָ. שֶׁבְּהֶמְתּוֹ מוֹכַחַת עָלָיו. וְכֵן אִם הָיְתָה שָׁם כִּירָתוֹ מְלַקֵּט הַכּל וּמַדְלִיק. שֶׁכִּירָתוֹ מוֹכַחַת עָלָיו:

When a person's animal is standing in his field, he may gather [all types of grasses] and bring them to it, for [the presence of] his animal indicates his [intent]. Similarly, if his cooking range is located there, he may gather everything and kindle it, for [the presence of] his range indicates his [intent].

הַקּוֹצֵץ אִילָן אוֹ שְׁנַיִם לְעֵצִים הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לְשַׁרְשָׁן. קָצַץ שְׁלֹשָׁה אוֹ יֶתֶר זֶה בְּצַד זֶה לֹא יְשָׁרֵשׁ. שֶׁהֲרֵי מְתַקֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ. אֶלָּא קוֹצֵץ מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ וּמַנִּיחַ שָׁרָשָׁיו בָּאָרֶץ. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ. אֲבָל מִשְּׂדֵה חֲבֵרוֹ מֻתָּר לְשָׁרֵשׁ:

If a person cuts down a tree or two to use as wood, he may dig out their roots. If he cuts down three or more next to each other, he should not dig out their roots, because then he is improving his land. 5:4)]. Instead, he should cut off the portion above the earth and leave the roots in the ground.When does the above apply? In one's own field. In one's colleague's field, by contrast, it is permitted to dig out the roots.

הַמַּבְקִיעַ בְּזַיִת לִטּל עֵצִים לֹא יְחַפֶּה מְקוֹם הַבִּקּוּעַ בְּעָפָר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא עֲבוֹדָה אֲבָל מְכַסֶּה בַּאֲבָנִים אוֹ בְּקַשׁ:

When a person is chopping [branches from] an olive tree 4:5 and the gloss of the Ra'avad. for wood, he should not cover the place [where the branches grew] with earth, because this involves performing work [with the tree]. He may, however, cover it with stones or with straw.

הַמְזַנֵּב בַּגְּפָנִים וְהַקּוֹצֵץ קָנִים הֲרֵי זֶה קוֹצֵץ כְּדַרְכּוֹ בְּקַרְדֹּם וּבְמַגָּל וּבִמְגֵרָה וּבְכָל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצֶה:

One who trims the ends of branches of vines and cuts down reeds, may cut them in his ordinary pattern with a hatchet, a sickle, or a saw, or with any other utensil he desires. 4:7), the Rambam explains that there is no need for a deviation in the way he trims the branches, because he is not intending to trim the tree. To explain his statements: Although trimming is one of the activities forbidden by Scriptural Law, this refers to trimming the top of the tree, not the ends of its branches (Tifferet Yisrael to the above mishnah).

אֵין קוֹצְצִין בְּתוּלַת שִׁקְמָה בַּשְּׁבִיעִית כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁקּוֹצְצִין בִּשְׁאָר הַשָּׁנִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקְּצִיצָתָהּ עֲבוֹדַת אִילָן. שֶׁבִּקְצִיצָה זוֹ תִּגְדַּל וְתוֹסִיף. וְאִם צָרִיךְ לְעֵצֶיהָ קוֹצֵץ אוֹתָהּ שֶׁלֹּא כְּדֶרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתָהּ:

One should not chop wood from a wild fig tree from which wood has never been cut before 5:5)]. in the same way as one cuts wood from it in other years, because trimming a tree is [one of the forbidden] tasks involved with trees, for through trimming the tree, it will grow and increase. If he needs its wood, he should trim it in an unusual manner.

כֵּיצַד קוֹצְצָהּ. מֵעִם הָאָרֶץ אוֹ לְמַעְלָה מֵעֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים. אִילָן שֶׁנִּפְשַׁח קוֹשְׁרִין אוֹתוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית. לֹא שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יוֹסִיף:

How should he trim it? [He should cut either] the branches close to the ground or those higher than ten handbreadths. 80b).When a tree is split, 5:5)], which quotes I Samuel 15:33 as support. it can be tied together in the Sabbatical year. [The intent is not that] it will mend, but that [the split] will not increase.