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Identity of the witnesses of the hefker declaration (bi'ur)

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Question

You wrote that you need three people, who can be related to one another, to declare shemitah wine hefker on erev Pesach.

You also mentioned that they can't be dependent members who are part of your household.

We are having a family over for seder night: a couple and their teen daughter. Can they be my hefker witnesses? Or do they have to be men? Is it a problem that they will be our guests (dependents at our table for the night)?

Answer

Rabbi Bloom Nissan 5783

 

As long as the guests are not part of your regular household, they can be your "hefker witnesses." They can even be financially independent married children who live in their own homes.

It is possible to declare the wine hefker in the presence of women (and bat mitzvah aged girls).