I. Introduction-general

Sheviit treats of the laws of the second cycle agricola most important of the Torahafter the tithe: the Year Sabatico (Shemitá), which occurs every seven years.

During this year we set out four axes halájicos central:

1. Compulsory rest of the earth
   You can not sowing, pruning, harvesting of commercial way or planned.
2. Hefker (leave the private property of the fruit)
   The production of the earth does not belong to anyone. Everything is communal.
3. Kedushat Sheviit
   The fruits possess holiness special; by this holiness regulates their use, consumption and trade.
4. Shemitat Kesafim
   Cancellation of debts at the end of the year sabatico.

Sheviit is a basic treaty to understand:

– the model of economic social of the Torah,
– the ethics agricola and the distributive Law,
– the relationship between the land of Israel, and its actual owner (God),
– and the balance between productivity and rest social.

The treaty is divided into 10 chapters, each dedicated to an aspect different operating.

VIDEO IN SPANISH OF THE TREATY SHEVIIT IN 30 MINUTES

II. CHAPTER 1 – PROHIBITIONS AGRICULTURAL PRE-SHEMITA

Summary

Defines when it becomes forbidden to work the land before the start of the year sabatico; regulates the works which, although they have before, they may affect growth during Shemitá. Discusses the concepts of:

• Tosefet Sheviit: additional time prior to the year sabatico where certain tasks are considered prohibited.
• Work prohibited: plowing, pruning, irrigation, fertilizacion, the clearing of the field, maintenance of vineyards.
• Discussion between halachah and biblical decrees rabinicos that extend the ban.

Comment

This chapter sets out the principle that the spirit of Shemitá begins before the year same. The Wise men sought to avoid the farmer to handle the process agricola in order to ensure growth during the year prohibited. The goal is to preserve the authenticity of the rest of the land, and to prevent the evasion technique of the standard.

III. CHAPTER 2 – PERMITTED ACTIVITIES AND WORK INCIDENTAL

Summary

Precisely what work can be done during Shemitá when its purpose is not to agricola direct but preservativa or protection:

• Indicates limits of irrigation for not promote artificial growth.
• It allows you to avoid the death of trees, or the loss of structural perennial crops.
• Regulates the maintenance minimum of walls, fences and irrigation systems to prevent further damage.

Comment

The guiding principle here is: "do not seek to destroy the property". Even in Shemitá it is forbidden to allow trees to die if they can be saved without activity agricola commercial. Sheviit introduces a balance between the strict observance and sustainability basica.

VIDEO IN ENGLISH OF THE TREATY SHEVIIT IN 30 MINUTES

IV. CHAPTER 3 – LIMITS OF TERRITORIAL SHEMITÁ

Summary

Defines which areas geografcas of Israel are subject to Shemitá:

• Determines borders halajicas of the Land of Israel.
• Includes rules for enclaves, areas partially conquered and border regions.
• Clarifies what lands belong legally to the domain agricola of Israel for purposes of Shemitá.

Comment

This chapter is essential for understanding the relationship between Shemitá and the kedushat ha'aretz (holiness of the land). The status agricola depends on the history of the conquests of Yehoshua and Ezra. It is a sample of the way in which halachah and geography are integrated.

V. CHAPTER 4 – PROPERTY HEFKER, AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE FIELDS

Summary

Explains how it operates hefkerthe renunciation of private property of the products:

• During Shemitá the fruits are all the same.
• It regulates the access of people to the camps.
• It is established that the owner is not able to prevent access or store excessively.
• Defines that the owner can pick up for family consumption, but not for trade.

Comment

This chapter portrays the social aspect of Shemitá: redistribution real food, reduction of inequalities and a reminder that the earth belongs to God. It is one of the sections most radical of the economic system of the bible.

VI. CHAPTER 5 – KEDUSHAT SHEVIIT: HOLINESS AND USES THE PRODUCT

Summary

Details how you should be treated products of the year sabatico, because of its holiness special:

• Prohibition against wasting food.
• Prohibition of destructive use or dishonorable.
• Rules about cooking, mixing, processing, and storing.
• Determines which products receive holiness (fruits, vegetables, wines, oils).

Comment

The holiness agricultural Shemitá is not symbolic; it affects practical day-to-day consumption and storage. It establishes that the food should be used with respect and without waste. The halachah modern largely follows these rules in Israel.

VII. CHAPTER 6 – TRADE, EXCHANGE AND MARKET DURING SHEMITÁ

Summary

Focuses on the prohibition of the marketing of products with holiness of Shemitá:

• You can't sell in a commercial manner.
• Unable to generate economic gain.
• Regulates the exchange of goods, prices and sales limits incidental.
• It explains what products can be sold by be non-Shemitá or production that is not subject to Shemitá.

Comment

This chapter shows the macroeconomic impact of the year sabatico: severely limits the agricultural economy formal. Requires a model of subsistence, barter limited and reduction of mercantile activity. It is one of the chapters more complex in its application to contemporary.

VIII. CHAPTER 7 – BIUR: THE TIME AT WHICH THE PRODUCT SHOULD LEAVE THE HOUSE

Summary

Defines the process of biurthe obligation to “pull out” the products when they are no longer available for wild animals in the field:

• Determines dates biur according to each type of fruit.
• States that the product may not stay stored if you do not already exist in the nature.
• Procedure biur: declared temporarily hefker and is redistributed fairly.

Comment

The biur prevents a family to hijack foods that do not exist in nature, ensuring equitable access. It imposes discipline and social ethics antitrust.

IX. CHAPTER 8 – AUTHORIZATION OF MENIAL AND SPECIAL CASES

Summary

Lists smaller jobs allowed to maintain properties or avoid loss of irreversible:

• Emergency repairs.
• Activities considered "melajot sheenán shel sherajá" (works that are not intended to promote growth agricola).
• Rules for trees young and new plantations.
• Management of abandoned fields in Shemitá.

Comment

The chapter elaborates the principle of proportionality: if a damage is greater than the spiritual benefit of abstaining from work, the halachah allows limited action. Illustrates the sensitivity practice of the Torah.

X. CHAPTER 9 – SHEMITAT KESAFIM: CANCELLATION OF DEBT

Summary

Introduces the financial component of Shemitá:

• In the year sabatico gets canceled all personal debt.
• The lender may not require payment.
• The debtor is morally motivated to comply, but legally released.
• Explains the institution of the prozbul created by Hillel, allowing the court to keep the right of collection to not paralyze the credit in the society.

Comment

The financial system of Shemitá seeks to avoid debt chronic. However, in practice it generated fear to pay, so that Hillel instituted the prozbuldemonstrating adaptability and legal protection social simultaneous. It is one of the examples classics of halachah in balance with a economia real.

XI. CHAPTER 10 – FINAL RULES, CONFLICTS, DECLARATIONS, AND LOCAL APPLICATIONS

Summary

Ends with:

• Formal statements required in Shemitá.
• Conflicts between owners and collectors.
• Final rules on domestic use, kitchen, and transportation of products.
• Border cases of doubt, regional customs and the decisions of local courts.

Comment

This last chapter provides a practical synthesis: how to resolve disputes, real, how to apply regional differences, and how to complete the cycle of the year sabbatical from a community perspective, and judicial. Is the closing operation of the treaty.

XII. CONCLUSION OF THE TREATY

Sheviit presents one of the systems and agricultural and social most sophisticated of the ancient world:

• Redistribution equitable food.
• Limitation of economic power in private.
• Rest of ecological land centuries before the sustainable agriculture modern.
• Protection to the debtor depleted.
• Sanctity of labor, of food and of the earth.
• Limitation moral of the trade agricola.
• Transformation of social cyclic every seven years.

The treaty articulates with precision legal, a social project where economy, agriculture, ethics and spirituality are integrated in the same cycle.