Halachic Guides

Shemitah, Chapter 18: Laws of Hefsed – Causing Shemitah Produce to Spoil

Laws of hefsed, avoiding actions that cause shemitah produce to be destroyed, spoiled, or reduced in volume, and on properly discarding leftovers and peels. Can we peel vegetables with edible peels? Can we feed a baby shemitah fruit?

Shemitah, Chapter 17: Producing Food at Home

What are the laws governing preparing wine, oil, and legumes at home? Can I throw away the grape residue? How much wine can I make during shemitah? How can I sprout legumes indoors during the shemitah year?

Shemitah, Chapter 16: Processing Food During the Shemitah Year

Can I use shemitah oil to fry schnitzel? Can I cook a shemitah watermelon or make apricot jam? Here we will look at the common food processing methods for various types of produce and the significance for shemitah.

Shemitah, Chapter 15: Arba Minim

Can we use arba minim that grew during the shemitah year? How do we tend to them? Buy or sell them? Plus: special halachot related to etrogim during and after shemitah.

Shemitah, Chapter 14: Otzar Ha'aretz – the Optimal Way to Observe the Shemitah Year

What produce is sold at Otzar Ha'aretz stores? How does the distribution system work and what are the special guidelines that apply to each link in the chain?

Shemitah, Chapter 13: Practical Guidelines for Consumers for Purchasing Fruits and Vegetables

How is Otzar Beit Din produce bought? If I'm machmir about handling heter mechirah produce as sacred, can I buy this produce in a store? Can I buy shemitah produce from farmers who grew it by transgressing shemitah laws?

Shemitah, Chapter 12: Guidelines for Grocers

Guidelines for grocers selling otzar beit din produce and heter mechirah. Is it permissible to sell produce grown by Jewish farmers who don't observe shemitah?

Shemitah, Chapter 11: Supplying Agricultural Produce

Agricultural produce in Israel comes from various sources during the shemitah year in various ways. Here the halachic parameters of each source are explained and ranked in order of what is most halachically preferable according to Torah VeHa'aretz Institute.

Shemitah, Chapter 10: Land-Dependent Mitzvot During the Shemitah Year

When and under what circumstances is produce obligated in terumot and ma'aserot during the shemitah year? What about orlah, neta revay, challah and kila'im during shemitah?

Shemitah, Chapter 9: Principles of the Prohibition to Perform Transactions with Shemitah Produce

When can money become sacred with shemitah sanctity, what is the prohibition of transacting with shemitah produce, do we have to be concerned in light of the situation today, and can we use shemitah produce for mishloach manot?