Mishnah 1
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1)

(a)Beis Shamai permit plowing a Sadeh Ilan (a field with trees [which will be explained shortly]) in the Sh'mitah-year as long as it benefits the fruit of the sixth year. What do Beis Hillel say?

(b)What is Beis Hillel's reason?

(c)What does the Mishnah comment on the two opinions?

(d)Why is plowing beyond these times prohibited?

1)

(a)Beis Shamai permit plowing a Sadeh Ilan (a field with trees [which will be explained shortly]) in the Sh'mitah-year as long as it benefits the fruit of the sixth year. According to Beis Hillel - it is permitted until Shavu'os.

(b)Beis Hillel's reason is - because, in his opinion, that is up to then that the plowing benefits the fruit of the sixth-year.

(c)The Mishnah comments - that the two opinions are very close to each other (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)Plowing beyond these times is prohibited - because it creates the impression that one is plowing the land for the Sh'mitah.

2)

(a)Until when is one permitted to plow in a Sadeh Lavan (a wheat-field)?

(b)These rulings constitute Mishnah Rishonah. What did Raban Gamliel and his Beis-Din say in the Mishnah Achronah?

2)

(a)One is permitted to plow in a Sadeh Lavan (a wheat-field) - only until Pesach.

(b)These rulings constitute Mishnah Rishonah. However, Raban Gamliel and his Beis-Din - negated these two time-periods, permitting one to plow one's fields up until Rosh-Hashanah of the Sh'mitah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

Mishnah 2
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3)

(a)How many trees per Beis Sa'ah must a field contain to fall under the category of 'Sadeh Ilan'?

(b), The Tana rules that each tree must be able to produce a Kikar Deveilah weighing sixty Italian Maneh (see Tos. Yom-Tov). What is a Kikar Deveilah?

(c)A Maneh is equivalent to a hundred Dinrim, each of which equals six Ma'ah. How many barley grains weigh a Ma'ah?

3)

(a)In order to fall under the category of Sadeh Ilan, a field must contain - at least three trees per Beis Sa'ah.

(b)The Tana rules that each tree must be able to produce a Kikar Deveilah - (a cake of dried figs) weighing sixty Italian Maneh (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)A Maneh is equivalent to a hundred Dinrim, each of which equals six Ma'ah - each of which weighs the equivalent of sixteen barley grains.

4)

(a)If the Sadeh Ilan does not meet the above specifications, how far beyond each tree does the Tana permit plowing until Shavu'os?

(b)Until when may one then plow the rest of the field?

4)

(a)If the Sadeh Ilan does not meet the above specifications, the Tana permits plowing until Shavu'os - the space the picker together with his basket take up beyond each tree.

(b)The rest of the field one may plow - until Pesach (like a Sadeh Lavan).

Mishnah 3
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5)

(a)What equivalent Shi'ur does the Mishnah give with regard to ...

1. ... a non-fruit-bearing tree?

2. ... a tree that produces fruit other than figs?

(b)Why then, did the Tana pick on a fig-tree as an example?

5)

(a)The Mishnah gives exactly the same Shi'ur with regard to both ...

1. ... a non-fruit-bearing tree and ...

2. ... a tree that produces fruit other than figs.

(b)The Tana picked on a fig-tree as an example - because its fruit is both large (relatively speaking [see Tos. Yom-Tov]) and bountiful.

Mishnah 4
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6)

(a)What does the Mishnah say in a case where, of the three trees in the Beis Sa'ah, only ...

1. ... one produces a Kikar Deveilah?

2. ... two produce a Kikar Deveilah?

(b)The Tana restricts the above ruling to where there are between three and nine trees in the Beis Sa'ah. How will the Din differ if there are ten?

6)

(a)The Mishnah rules that in a case where, of the three trees in the Beis Sa'ah, only ...

1. ... one or even ...

2. ... two produce a Kikar Deveilah - he is only permitted to plow sufficient to meet the requirements of the tree or trees concerned (as we explained earlier).

(b)The Tana restricts the above ruling to where there are between three and nine trees in the Beis Sa'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael). If there are ten however - then he permits plowing the entire Beis-Sa'ah, even if none of them produce a Kikar Deveilah.

7)

(a)What does the Tana Kama learn from the Pasuk in Ki Sisa "be'Charish u've'Katzir Tishbos", from the word ...

1. ... "be'Charish"?

2. ... "u've'Katzir"?

(b)Why can the Pasuk not be referring to desisting from these Melachos ...

1. ... on Shabbos?

2. ... in the Sh'mitah?

(c)R. Yishmael disagrees with the Tana Kama. In which connection is the Pasuk speaking according to him?

(d)Why then does the Torah compare harvesting to plowing?

(e)What does it come to preclude from the prohibition?

7)

(a)The Tana Kama learns from the Pasuk in Ki Sisa "be'Charish u've'Katzir Tishbos", from the word ...

1. ... "be'Charish" - that plowing the field in preparation for the Sh'mitah is forbidden already in the sixth year (as we explained).

2. ... "u've'Katzir" - that harvesting what grew in the Sh'mitah is forbidden even in the eighth year.

(b)The Pasuk cannot be referring to desisting from these Melachos ...

1. ... on Shabbos (according to the Tana Kama) - seeing as we already know this from the Pasuk in Yisro "Sheishes Yamim Ta'avod ve'Asisa Kol Melachtecha ... ".

2. ... in the Sh'mitah - since we already know that from the Pasuk in B'har "Sheish Shanim Tizmor Karmecha ... ".

(c)R. Yishmael disagrees with the Tana Kama. According to him - the Pasuk is speaking in connection with Shabbos ...

(d)... and the Torah compares harvesting to plowing - to teach us that just as plowing is always voluntary, so too, is harvesting voluntary ...

(e)... to preclude the harvesting of the Omer, which is a Mitzvah (i.e. obligatory), and is therefore permitted even on Shabbos.

Mishnah 5
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8)

(a)What does the Mishnah say about three trees in a Beis Sa'ah which belong to three different owners?

(b)What minimum distance does Raban Gamliel allow between the trees which permits plowing the entire field?

(c)Why is that?

8)

(a)The Mishnah rules that three trees in a Beis Sa'ah which belong to three different owners - combine to permit plowing the entire field (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The minimum distance that Raban Gamliel allows between the trees which permits plowing the entire field (see Tos. Yom-Tov) is - four Amos (to accommodate a pair of oxen with the plow) ...

(c)... because otherwise, the trees stand to be uprooted.

Mishnah 6
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9)

(a)And what does the Mishnah say about ten Neti'os (saplings) that are scattered in a Beis Sa'ah?

(b)What is the difference between trees and saplings in this regard?

9)

(a)The Mishnah rules that if ten Neti'os (saplings) are scattered in a Beis Sa'ah - one is permitted to plow the entire Beis Sa'ah on account of them ...

(b)... but not less - (unlike trees, where the minimum is three).

10)

(a)What leniency do saplings have over trees?

(b)What is the source for this?

(c)What is the reason for this ruling (see Tos. Yom-Tov)?

10)

(a)The leniency saplings have over trees is - the fact that, even according to the Mishnah Rishonah, one is permitted to plow the entire field until Rosh Hashanah of the Sh'mitah.

(b)The source for this is - Halachah le'Moshe mi'Sinai.

(c)The reason for this ruling is - because the Torah has pity on a Yisrael's property (seeing as the saplings will dry up and die if the field is not plowed [Tos. Yom-Tov]).

11)

(a)What if the saplings or the trees (see Mishnah Achronah) are planted in a straight line or are surrounded by a fence (see Tiferes Yisrael)?

(b)Why is that?

11)

(a)If the saplings or the trees (see Mishnah Achronah) are planted in a straight line or are surrounded by a fence (see Tiferes Yisrael) - then one may only plow the area of the trees themselves ...

(b)... since it now appears that he is plowing the field in order to prepare it for Sh'mitah, and not for the sake of the trees.

Mishnah 7
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12)

(a)What does the Tana Kama say about saplings and Dala'as Yevanis (Greek gourds) combining to make up ten per Beis Sa'ah?

(b)Why specifically 'Dala'as Yevanis'?

(c)On what condition do they combine?

(d)Raban Shimon ben Gamliel is more lenient than the Tan Kama. What does he say?

(e)Like whom is the Halachah?

12)

(a)The Tana Kama rules - that saplings and Dala'as Yevanis (Greek gourds) combine to make up ten per Beis Sa'ah.

(b)Specifically 'Dala'as Yevanis' - because, due to their size, they are as large as trees.

(c)They only combine however - if the majority (at least six of them) are saplings.

(d)Raban Shimon ben Gamliel - permits to plowing a Beis Sa'ah containing ten Greek gourds (and no saplings at all) up until Rosh-Hashanah.

(e)The Halachah is - like him Raban Shimon ben Gamliel (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

Mishnah 8
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13)

(a)R. Elazar ben Azaryah considers trees saplings 'ad she'Chalelem'. What does he mean by that?

(b)What if the owner has not yet redeemed the fruit?

(c)According to R. Yehoshua, it is considered a sapling until it reaches the age of seven years. R. Akiva says as long as it is called 'a sapling'. What does he mean?

(d)What is his reason?

(e)Like whom is the Halachah?

13)

(a)R. Elazar ben Azaryah considers trees saplings 'ad she'Chalelem' - (i.e. until he redeems the fruit in the fourth year.

(b)If the owner has not yet redeemed it - then it automatically changes its status in the fifth year.

(c)According to R. Yehoshua, it is considered a sapling until it reaches the age of seven years. R. Akiva says as long as it is called 'a sapling' by which he means - only until the end of the first year ...

(d)... since after that, people no longer refer to it as a sapling.

(e)The Halachah is - like R. Akiva.

14)

(a)On what condition does R. Shimon consider a tree that has been cut down and that re-grows a sapling, and on what condition does he consider it a tree?

(b)In which area of Halachah is this ruling relevant other than Shevi'is?

(c)Like whom is the Halachah?

14)

(a)R. Shimon considers a tree that has been cut down and that re-grows a sapling - provided it was cut down to less than the height of a Tefach; otherwise, it is still considered a tree.

(b)Besides Shevi'is - this ruling is also relevant to the Din of Orlah.

(c)The Halachah is - like R. Shimon (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

Hadran alach 'ad Eimasai Chorshin'