Commentary for Sheviit 5:6
אֵלּוּ כֵלִים שֶׁאֵין הָאֻמָּן רַשַּׁאי לְמָכְרָם בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, מַחֲרֵשָׁה וְכָל כֵּלֶיהָ, הָעוֹל, וְהַמִּזְרֶה, וְהַדָּקָר. אֲבָל מוֹכֵר הוּא מַגַּל יָד וּמַגַּל קָצִיר, וַעֲגָלָה וְכָל כֵּלֶיהָ. זֶה הַכְּלָל, כָּל שֶׁמְּלַאכְתּוֹ מְיֻחֶדֶת לַעֲבֵרָה, אָסוּר. לְאִסּוּר וּלְהֶתֵּר, מֻתָּר:
These are the tools that a craftsman is not allowed to sell during the Sabbatical year: a plow and all its tools, a yoke, a winnowing fan, and a pick. However, one may sell a hand-sickle, a harvesting sickle, and a wagon and all its tools. This is the rule: anything whose usage is directed toward [work which is a Sabbatical] transgression is forbidden; but [anything the normal usage of which is for work which is] a transgression [on the Sabbatical year] or permitted, it is permitted.
Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
שאין האומן רשאי למכרן בשביעית – for someone who is suspected [of violating] on the Sabbatical/Seventh Year , but for someone who is not suspected, he perfmitted for he doesn’t acquire but rather stores it away/hides it until [after] the Seventh Year.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
Introduction
This mishnah deals with selling implements which could be used to transgress the laws of the sabbatical year. The rabbis did not allow one person to aid another to transgress by selling to that person a tool which he could use to transgress another commandment. We should note that according to commentators, the mishnah refers to selling these things to someone who is suspected of not observing the laws of the shemittah.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מזרה (winnowing fan) – that scatters/winnows the grain in the granary/threshing floor.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
These are the implements which a craftsman may not sell in the seventh year:
A plow and all its [accompanying] implements, a yoke, a winnowing-fan, and a pickax. This section contains a list of implements that are only used for labors prohibited on the seventh year. The plow and the yoke are used for plowing which is clearly forbidden. The winnowing fan is used to separate wheat from chaff. While this is permitted, it is only permitted in small, personal quantities. Since this type of fan is used for large quantities of wheat or other grain, one cannot sell such a fan on the sabbatical year. The pickax was used to dig holes, which was also forbidden.
A plow and all its [accompanying] implements, a yoke, a winnowing-fan, and a pickax. This section contains a list of implements that are only used for labors prohibited on the seventh year. The plow and the yoke are used for plowing which is clearly forbidden. The winnowing fan is used to separate wheat from chaff. While this is permitted, it is only permitted in small, personal quantities. Since this type of fan is used for large quantities of wheat or other grain, one cannot sell such a fan on the sabbatical year. The pickax was used to dig holes, which was also forbidden.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
דקר (pronged tool/mattock) – a kind of iron handle of a tool/peg is called KOLTERO in the foreign language, and it is made to dig the ground with it, such as the language (Numbers 25:8): “[he (Phinehas) followed the Israelite into the chamber] stabbed both of them [the Israelite and the woman, through the belly].”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
But he may sell a sickle used by hand, a scythe, and a cart with all its implements. This section lists implements which could be used to perform prohibited labors but also could be used to perform permitted labors. One may assume that the person to whom one sells will use them appropriately and hence they may be sold on the seventh year. A hand sickle would be used to harvest a small amount, for personal use, which one may do on the sabbatical year. Similarly, a scythe would be used for smaller amounts and is permitted. The cart can be used for forbidden work, but could also be used to transport things that one is allowed to carry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מגל יד ומגל קציר ועגלה – they are permitted [to be sold] lest he [wishes] to reap from that which is ownerless and to bring [it] in a wagon for the food of his household, but it is not prohibited other than to bring a lot to make a storehouse.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
This is the general principle: any tools designed for work involving a transgression [in the seventh year] is prohibited; but if for a forbidden and a permissible purpose, it may be [sold]. This is the general rule that summarizes the details found in the previous two sections. It is not unusual for the Mishnah to provide both a general rule and detailed examples.
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