1)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses the Din regarding plowing ...

1. ... a Sadeh Lavan - (a field of produce or legumes (where there is no shade [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]) and ...

2. ... a 'Beis ha'Shelachin' - (a field that requires rain-water, because watering it is inadequate).

(b)The time-limit given by the Tana Kama (up to when one is permitted to plow them) is up to the time that the moist - (from the rain) has dried up.

(c)One is plowing the field - in order to plant cucumbers and gourds.

2)

(a)The problem R. Shimon has with the Tana Kama's ruling is the fact - that it allows each person to have his own time-limit (instead of giving one fixed time for everybody).

(b)According to him one may plow a Sadeh ...

1. ... Lavan until Pesach, and a Sadeh

2. ... Ilan until Shavu'os.

(c)The reason that a Sadeh Lavan is more stringent than a Sadeh Ilan in this regard is - because the former needs the majority of moist to remain, in order to plant another batch after the plowing, whereas the latter, which has been planted already, requires only that the moist sinks down to the depths of the earth.

(d)The Halachah is - like neither Tana, for, as we have already learned, Raban Gamliel and his Beis-Din permitted plowing right up to Rosh Hashanah.

3)

(a)The Mishnah permits fertilizing a field and digging round the roots of a tree (see Tos. Yom-Tov) in the sixth year - right up to Rosh Hashanah.

(b)The reason for the leniency with regard to ...

1. ... fertilizing is - because even in the Sh'mitah itself, it is Asur only mi'de'Rabbanan, and the Rabbanan did not extend their decree to the sixth year.

2. ... digging ... is - because it is clearly intended for the benefit of the fruit of the sixth year.

4)

(a)The basic meaning of 'Beis ha'Shelachin' is - a thirsty field.

(b)One is permitted to plow it in the sixth year - right up to Rosh Hashanah.

5)

(a)The Tana Kama initially permits four things in a Sadeh Ilan right up to Rosh Hashanah of the Sh'mitah: Meyablin, Mefarkin, Me'abkin Me'ashnin. If ...

1. ... 'Meyablin' means to remove blemishes that appear on the tree,'Mefarkin' - to remove a pile of leaves that have fallen on to a branch and that are accumulating there,

2. ... 'Me'abkin' means to cover the exposed roots with earth,'Me'ashnin' - to fumigate a tree in order to kill the worms that have grown on it.

(b)R. Shimon permits - removing the leaves (see Mishnah Rishonah) even in the Sh'mitah itself.

(c)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

6)

(a)The Tana adds to the previous list Mesaklin, Mekars'min, Mezardin, Mefaslin. 'Mesaklin' means to remove the stones (see Tiferes Yisrael);'Mekars'min' - to cut away the dry branches.

(b)'Mezardin' means to remove the moist branches. Besides removing the accumulated foliage, 'Mefaslin' (based on the Pasuk in Ki Sisa "P'sal L'cha") might also mean - to cut off the branches, to enable the tree to grow thicker.

(c)R. Yehoshua is more lenient than the Tana Kama. When he says that 'like the Zirud and the Pisul of the fifth year, so is the Zirud and the Pisul of the sixth, he means that - just as it is with the fifth year's produce that one performs Zirud and Pisul in the sixth year, so too, does the Zirud and Pisul that one performs in the seventh year belong to the sixth year's produce, and is therefore permitted.

(d)R. Shimon, on the other hand, is more stringent than the Tana Kama. According to him - as long as one permitted to work on the tree (until Shavu'os), one may perform Zirud and Pisul (see Tiferes Yisrael), but no longer

(e)The Halachah - is like the Tana Kama.

7)

(a)Some commentaries explain ...

1. ... 'Mezahamin es ha'Neti'os' to mean that one may stick dung around the loose bark of a sapling to cause it to grow tighter, so that it should not fall off. According to others, it means - that one may smear them with a foul-smelling substance, to chase away the worms (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

2. ... 've'Korchin Osan' to mean that one may tie something round the sapling to protect it from the heat in the summer and from the cold in the winter. According to others, it means that - one may tie the branches one to the other and then to the top of the tree, to stop them from dragging on the ground.

3. ... 've'Kotmin Osan' to mean that one may cover the roots with ashes (see Tos. Yom-Tov). According to others, it means - that one may break off the ends of the branches.

4. ... 've'Osin Lahem Batim' to mean that one may build a wall around the sapling and fill the space with earth. According to others, it means - that one may build a sort of hut over it to protect it from the sun.

(b)Finally, the Tana adds to the list - watering the saplings (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)One may perform these Melachos - up until Rosh Hashanah.

8)

(a)R. Elazar bar Tzadok is more lenient than the Tana Kama regarding the last item. He permits watering the branches - even during the Sh'mitah ...

(b)... but not the trunk - so as to draw a distinction between the Sh'mitah and other years.

(c)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

9)

(a)The Tana permits 'Sachin ... ' (anointing with oil) fruit that has not yet ripened until Rosh Hashanah - so as to precipitate its growth.

(b)Added to that, he also permits making a hole in the fruit ('Menakvim osam ') where necessary - to pour oil into it.

(c)'Menakvim osam' might also mean - to make a hole in the fruit ...

(d)... to allow the rain-water to seep into it (with the same result).

10)

(a)The Tana Kama forbids Sachin and Menakvim fruit both ...

1. ... in the sixth year if it will only ripen in the seventh, and ...

2. ... in the eighth year if it did not yet ripen in the seventh.

(b)R. Yehudah - permits it anyway in a place where it is not customary to do so ...

(c)... since then, it is not considered a Melachah.

(d)R. Shimon permits anointing in the eighth year fruit that did not yet ripen in the seventh - because he is permitted to work on the tree in the eighth year (even though the fruit still has Kedushas Shevi'is [see Tos. Yom-Tov & Mishnah Rishonah]).

(e)The Halachah - is like the Tana Kama.

11)

(a)The Tana Kama permits planting - up to thirty days before Rosh Hashanah of Sh'mitah, but not later (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The same applies to ...

1. ... 'Havrachah' - (bending the branch of a vine [see Tos. Yom-Tov] into the ground and covering it with earth so that it grows into another vine) and ...

2. ... 'Harkavah' - (grafting).

(c)Thirty days - because that is how long it takes for a tree to take root.

(d)The Tana rules that someone who did any of these Melachos within thirty days of Sh'mitah - is obligated to uproot whatever he planted.

12)

(a)R. Yehudah requires - a mere three days for a tree to take root.

(b)R. Yossi and R. Shimon say - two weeks ...

(c)... and the Halachah is like them.

(d)In fact, the thirty days, two weeks and three days must be reckoned backwards (not from Rosh Hashanah of Sh'mitah, but) from Rosh Chodesh Elul - since that is when Tosefes Shevi'is begins.

13)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses rice, millet or poppy-seeds with regard to Shevi'is - and Ma'asros.

(b)The other item included in the list is - sesame seeds.

(c)The Mishnah permits all of these with regard to Sh'mitah, as long as they take root before Rosh Hashanah of the Sh'mitah. Whereas with regard to Ma'asros - it obligates the owner to separate either Ma'aser Sheini or Ma'aser Ani, depending on which year the outgoing one is.

14)

(a)The criterion of Ma'asros regarding trees is the time that the fruit is formed (Chanatah); whereas that of ...

1. ... vegetables is - when they are picked.

2. ... produce is - when they have grown to a third of their full size (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)Chazal gave a different criterion with regard to the above four than they gave to ...

1. ... vegetables - because they are not all picked at the same time.

2. ... produce - because they do not all reach a third of their growth at the same time.

(c)So they fixed the criterion as the time that they take root - because they all reach that stage simultaneously (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

15)

(a)R. Shimon Shezuri gives the criterion of Egyptian beans that one initially plants for seeding - as when they take root (just like rice, millet poppy-seeds and sesame-seeds) ...

(b)... but not if they are planted for eating - in which case one goes after when they are picked (like most vegetables).

(c)R. Shimon - adds thick beans to the above list (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)According to R. Elazar, the criterion for thick beans is - when they become hard and lie in their pods like (a ball) in a satchel (see also Tos. Yom and Rashash).

16)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses 'Betzalim ha'Sarisim' - (onions that do not produce seeds like most onions do) and Pul ha'Mitzri (Egyptian beans) that were planted as vegetables.

(b)The condition on which ...

1. ... one Ma'asers them together with the crops of the previous year, and on which ...

2. ... that they are not subject to the Dinim of Shevi'is is - if water was withheld from them thirty days before Rosh Hashanah.

17)

(a)Next the Tana discusses a field that is 'shel Ba'al' - that is situated in a valley, and that does not require water over and above the regular rain fall [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(b)R. Meir gives such a field from which one withheld water for two periods (i.e. double the time that one normally waits before watering it again) - the same Din as Betzalim ha'Sarisim and Pul ha'Mitzri from which one withheld water thirty days before Rosh Hashanah (see Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)Despite the fact that the field is well-watered, one needs to water it further - for vegetables (which require more water than trees and crops).

(d)According to the Chachamim - the criterion is three periods ...

(e)... and the Halachah - is like them.

18)

(a)The Mishnah permits retaining gourds in the Sh'mitah that are for seeding - provided they become dry and hard (see Tos. Yom-Tov), and unfit for human consumption before Rosh Hashanah.

(b)It is otherwise forbidden - because one may only retain vegetables etc. in the ground in the Sh'mitah for eating, but not for seeding.

(c)The Tana also issues a ruling with regard to their 'Temaros'. Besides its blossoms in their early stages (when they resemble berries), this might mean - their stalks or branches.

(d)The Tana - forbids them too (see also Tiferes Yisrael).

19)

(a)R. Shimon says 'u'Marbitzin be'Sadeh Lavan'(with reference to vegetables) - which means that - one is permitted to water it on Erev Shevi'is so that the vegetables will grow in the Sh'mitah, and in the Sh'mitah so that they will grow in the eighth year (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)According to R. Eliezer ben Ya'akov - it is forbidden.

(c)The Halachah is - like R. Shimon (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

20)

(a)The Tana Kama rules 'Memarsin be'Orez', meaning - that one may water the ground in which rice is growing and mix the earth and the water.

(b)R. Shimon - forbids cutting the leaves of the rice during the Sh'mitah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Halachah - is like R. Shimon.