3,136. A Path That Runs Through a Field

Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 3:3

The same rules as in the previous halacha also apply when a private path that is four cubits wide (about six feet) or a public path that is 16 cubits wide (about 24’) separates a field. When it comes to a private path that is narrower than four cubits or a public path that is narrower than 16 cubits, if it’s a permanent path – meaning one that is used both summer and winter – it’s considered a separation between parts of the field. If the path isn’t used in the winter, it’s not considered a separation and the land is considered one field.

Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 3:4

Other things that a separate a field into two include land that was unworked, i.e., not planted or plowed; land left fallow, that was plowed but not planted; crops interrupting other crops, such as if there was wheat on both sides and barley in between them; harvesting in the middle of the field before the grain reaches a third of its growth, then plowing the area that he harvested. This applies so long as the area in question is as wide as three rows of plowing, which is smaller than the area needed to plant a quarter-kav (about a third of a liter) of seed. This applies to a small field 50 cubits by two cubits (about 75’x3’) or smaller. If it’s larger than this, then unworked land and fallow land don’t make it divided in unless it was wide enough to plant a quarter-kav of seed. In such a case, even the smallest amount of a different crop acts as a separation.