Orlah And 4th Year

PARSHA AIDES

‫הלכות ערלה ונטע רבעי‬ LAWS OF ORLAH & THE 4

TH

YEAR OF FRUITS

Orlah - fruit for first three years of the fruit tree are prohibited Netai Revai - the fourth year of fruit is holy and eaten in Yerushaliyim or redeemed (for money to buy food in Yerushaliyim) Rosh HaShana for Orlah – 1st of Tishrei Rosh HaShana for Trees – 15th of Shvat If a tree is planted at least 44 days in advance of the 1st of Tishrei, then considered a whole year Thus, the final result is three sets of time-periods for these fruits

‫ר"ח תשרי‬till ‫( י"ד בשבט‬example year 5770) Year 1 ends: Same day next year (5771) Year 2 ends: Same day next year (5772) Year 3 ends: Same day next year (5773) Fourth Year ends: Same day next year (5774)

If planted from

‫ ט"ו בשבט‬till ‫( ט"ו באב‬example year 5770) Year 1 ends: Last day of Elul (5770) Year 2 ends: Last day of Elul (5771) Year 3 ends: 15th of Shvat (5773) Fourth Year ends: 15th of Shvat (5774)

If planted from

‫ ט"ז באב‬till ‫(כ"ט באלול‬example year 5770) Year 1 ends: Last day of Elul (5771) Year 2 ends: Last day of Elul (5772) Year 3 ends: Last day of Elul (5773) Fourth Year ends: Last day of Elul (5774)

If planted from

PARSHA AIDES

Halachic Danger Signs The Mishnah in Maaser Sheni lists various visual markers that were placed throughout Eretz Yisrael to alert people to religiously restricted areas. The Gemara (Bava Kama 69a) explains how each marker identified the type of restriction. Restriction Kerem Revai (fourth year vineyard)

Prohibition May be eaten, but only if redeemed

Orlah (after first three years)

All benefit prohibited

K’varim (Graves)

Makes walker impure

Marker Clumps of earth

Similarity One benefits from earth, but only if worked

Shards of tile Useless items Plaster

White, like bones

The Mishnah continues quoting Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel, who limits these markers to the Shmitah year, when all produce is ownerless, and people, therefore, have permission to enter another’s fields. However, in other years, we say “Halitehu l’rasha v’yamos” – feed a wicked person (harmful items) and let him die. If someone is trespassing, we are not concerned with his well being, and don’t warn him of potential religious hazards. However, the anonymous section of the Mishneh concludes that “Tznuim” (the modest ones) were extra careful and took the extra step to avoid their property being the source of religious harm to others. They would set aside money, and proclaim that “any fruits that were gathered from the fourth year vineyard is redeemed” on that money. In this way, any fruits taken by trespassers would not be kerem r’vai fruits.