3,026. Concluding Sefer Hafla’ah, Beginning Sefer Zeraim

Hilchos Arachin Vacharamin 8:13

One should never consecrate or proscribe all of his property; one who does so disregards the Torah's directive, since Leviticus 27:28 says that one should pledge "from all that is his," and not that one should pledge "all that is his," as the Sages explained (Erchin 28a). Doing so is not considered pious, it’s just foolish because it impoverishes a person and makes him dependent on others; such a person should not be shown mercy. Similarly, the Sages said that a “pious fool” leads the world to destruction. Rather, one should not spend more than a fifth of his resources on mitzvos. One should act according the Biblical directive to arrange one’s affairs using good judgment (Psalms 112:5), in both religious and secular matters. This even applies to the offerings in which one is obligated, as the Torah took pity on one’s wallet and specified that the type of offering brought should accord with one’s financial means. All the more so this should be the case when it comes to things in which a person is only obligated because of a vow! One should only take such vows appropriately, as per Deuteronomy 16:17: “Each one according to his generosity, according to the blessings of Hashem your God, which He has given you.”

This concludes Sefer Hafla’ah, the sixth book in the Mishneh Torah.

Sefer Zeraim

Hilchos Kilayim 1:1

One who plants two species of seeds together in Israel is liable to the penalty of lashes as per Leviticus 19:19: “You shall not plant your field with mixed species.”