This page offers practical information about Shevi’is for the Ramat Beit Shemesh community. See below for:
- Classifications of produce with respect to Shevi’is and how to treat them
- Link to Rabbi Myers’ videos on Shemitta
- Link to Shemitta calendars
- Other items relating to Shevi’is
This page is a work in progress. For any feedback, including questions and comments, please send email to rbs.sheviis.info@gmail.com.
Classification | What it means | Local stores that sell it | Treat with Kedushas Shevi'is | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shishis | Sixth year produce - no kedushas shevi'is | A | No | Observe labels on produce shelves for BEST |
Otzar Beis Din | Produce distribution system run by beis din | No otzar beis din besides Otzar HaAretz in RBS area, as far as we currently know | Yes | |
Otzar HaAretz* | An organization that strives to support Jewish farmers in Israel | B | Varies according to product - need to check labels at store | Sources of produce include: - Shishis - Kedushas shevi'is via otzar beis din - Matza menutak - Aravah + heter mechira l'chumra - Western Negev + heter mechira l'chumra - Yevul nochri from non-shemitta years - Yevul chul |
Heter Mechira | Produce grown on Jewish-owned land in Eretz Yisrael sold to non-Jews for duration of shemitta year | Seven/Eleven (makolet) | Some are stringent to treat with Kedushas Shevi'is | |
Yevul Nochri | Produce from land in Eretz Yisrael owned by non-Jews | C | Some are stringent to treat with Kedushas Shevi'is | The non-Jews who purchase the land are usually Arabs |
Yevul Chul | Produce from outside Eretz Yisrael | C | No | |
Southern Arava/Western Negev | Grown in parts of Israel not regarded by some to be obligated in laws of Shevi'is | A | Some are stringent to treat with Kedushas Shevi'is | Harav Efrati/Badatz Eida HaChareidis supervision does not use heter mechira; other supervisions may use heter mechira |
Matza Menutak | Completely indoor hothouse with a plastic barrier between the produce and the ground | BEST Park Center BEST Dil Vazol | No |
* Further information about Otzar HaAretz can be found here: https://en.toraland.org.il/beit-midrash/halachic-guides/hilchot-haaretz/hilchot-shemitah/shemitah-chapter-14-otzar-haaretz-the-optimal-way-to-observe-the-shemitah-year/
Store groupings
Where a letter appears in the Local stores that sell it column, it refers to the following:
- A: All stores
- B: BEST Park Center and Super Hatzlacha
- C: Stores besides BEST Park Center and Super Hatzlacha
Stores in group C
- BEST Dil Vazol
- Shuk Mehadrin
- Yesh
- Osher Ad
- Rami Levy
- Bar Kol (please send current name)
At present, the above store groupings appear adequate for our purposes. If further distinctions are necessary, and to add stores, please send email to rbs.sheviis.info@gmail.com.
Rabbi Myers on Shemitta
Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcR1vaywZfI5wbsveVJ7EYjIYPBew15g5
Shemitta calendars
From The Institute for Torah and the Land of Israel
- All: https://en.toraland.org.il/beit-midrash/articles/shemitah/shemitah-calendars/
- Fruit: https://en.toraland.org.il/beit-midrash/articles/shemitah/shemitah-calendars/shemitah-calendar-for-fruit/
- Grains, legumes, and seeds: https://en.toraland.org.il/beit-midrash/articles/shemitah/shemitah-calendars/shemitah-calendar-for-grains-legumes-and-seeds/
- Vegetables: https://en.toraland.org.il/beit-midrash/articles/shemitah/shemitah-calendars/shemitah-calendar-for-vegetables/
- Herbs and spices: https://en.toraland.org.il/beit-midrash/articles/shemitah/shemitah-calendars/shemitah-calendar-for-herbs-and-spices/