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Sheviis 4:9-10

Sheviis 4:9

Once a seah of olives (about 3.5 gallons) can produce a reviis of oil (about 3.5 ounces), they can be crushed and eaten in the field. Once they can produce half a log (about 7 ounces), they can be pressed and used for anointing in the field. If the olives have grown to one-third their final size, they may be pressed in the field and brought into the house. This is the time when they become liable to tithes in non-sabbatical years. All other fruit of the trees also have the same time for tithe liability in non-sabbatical years as they do for eating in the sabbatical.

Sheviis 4:10

Beis Shammai say that it is prohibited to cut down trees in the sabbatical year once they produce fruit. Beis Hillel say carob trees become prohibited once they are weighed down, grape vines become prohibited when they produce small, sour grapes, olive trees become prohibited when they bloom, and other trees when they produce fruit. All trees may be cut down when the time to take their tithes arrive. If an olive tree produces a quarter-kav of olives (about 13 ounces in volume), it may not be cut down; Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says it depends on the tree.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz