Shemitah and Indoor Flowerpots

Q. May one plant in a flowerpot inside a house during a Shemitah year?

A. The Gemara relates that Rebbi Yochanan stated in the name of Rebbi Yannai that we cannot resolve whether the laws of Shemitah apply to a tree that is growing inside a house [Yerushalmi Orla 1:2, end]. Sefer Pe’as Hashulchan (20:52) writes that since Shemitah today is a mitzvah derabbanan and the status of indoor trees was unresolved, the principle of safek dirabanan likula applies (we are lenient with situations of uncertainty). The Chazon Ish (Shevi’is 22:1) writes that if the plant is inside a house and is grown in a flowerpot that has no hole, there is even more reason to be permit this. As we have previously seen, the Chazon Ish was not completely convinced that the Halachos of Shemitah apply to a flowerpot without a hole, even if it is situated outside. Although he ruled that it is forbidden to be lenient on this point, regarding a flowerpot without holes that is situated indoors, he writes that those who wish to be lenient may do so.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.