3,754. Buying Bread With Shemittah Money

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 6:14

Let’s say that someone buys a loaf of bread from a baker for a pundion,* telling him, “When I harvest shemittah vegetables from the field, I will bring them to you in exchange for it.” Such a transaction is permitted and the loaf is considered shemittah produce. If he bought the loaf without any such condition, he may not pay using money received in exchange for shemittah produce because such money may not be used to settle debts.

*A denomination of coin.

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 6:15

One may eat shemittah produce regardless of whether or not the recipient is expected to return the favor. “Expected to return the favor” means that one may give shemittah produce to a friend, or invite him into his garden to eat, as if he had already done him a favor. If someone was given shemittah produce as a gift, or if he inherited it, he may eat it the same way as if he had personally gathered this produce from the field.