Commentaire sur Shevi'it 2:2
מְזַבְּלִין וּמְעַדְּרִין בַּמִּקְשָׁאוֹת וּבַמִּדְלָעוֹת עַד רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה. וְכֵן בְּבֵית הַשְּׁלָחִין. מְיַבְּלִין, מְפָרְקִין, מְאַבְּקִין, מְעַשְּׁנִין, עַד רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, אַף נוֹטֵל הוּא אֶת הֶעָלֶה מִן הָאֶשְׁכּוֹל בַּשְּׁבִיעִית:
On peut fertiliser et aérer les concombres et les gourdes jusqu'à Rosh Hashanah [fête du Nouvel An de la septième année]. Et [on peut faire] de même dans un champ irrigué. On peut enlever les blessures [des arbres], enlever les feuilles fanées, appliquer de la poudre nutritive et fumiger les plantes jusqu'à Rosh Hashanah . Le rabbin Shimon dit que l'on peut en plus retirer certaines feuilles des grappes de raisin au cours de la septième année.
Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מזבלין – they bring in to them manure.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
Introduction
This mishnah teaches some other exceptions to the general prohibitions of tending to a field in the sixth year of the sabbatical cycle.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מעדרים (hoe) – they dig at the roots of the trees, for every thing that is for the needs of the fruit of the Sixth Year, is permissible with the time added to (I.e., the supplement) to the Seventh Year, and something that is not other than for the need of repair of the tree is prohibited, unless it is something that even in the Seventh Year itself that ists prohibition is ot other than from the words of the Scribes, but in the supplement/time added to the Seventh Year, they did not make a decree.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
They may manure and hoe cucumbers and gourds until Rosh Hashanah. Manuring and hoeing are not prohibited by the Torah in the sabbatical year. They are prohibited only derabanan, from rabbinic authority. Therefore, these activities are completely permitted up until Rosh Hashanah of the sabbatical year, when the law is more lenient.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
בית השלחין (a field which needs irrigation) – the rain water is not enough for it and one must water it. The Aramaic Targum/translation of (Genesis 25:29): “[Esau came in from the open,] famished (i.e., tired), he is tired (in Aramaic).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
So too with regard to irrigated fields. Irrigated fields, fields which require artificial irrigation may be weeded all the way up until Rosh Hashanah of the sabbatical year. This is because the fruits of that year need the water and this is not preparation for the following year.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מיבלין – they cut the withered twigs, warts that appear on the tree.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
They may remove flaws from trees, strip off leaves, cover roots with earth, and fumigate the plants until Rosh Hashanah. This section continues to list activities that are prohibited during the sabbatical year only “derabanan” and are therefore permitted during the sixth year. Another reason that these labors may be permitted is that they are not intended to prepare for the seventh year, but rather to improve the fruit already growing on the tree, the fruit of the sixth year.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מפרקין – release [the too- luxuriant growth of] leaves from the tree in order to lighten it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sheviit
Rabbi Shimon says: one may also remove leaves from a grape cluster even in the seventh year itself. Rabbi Shimon adds another permitted activity, this time one that is permitted even on the seventh year itself. Removing leaves from grape clusters does not improve the tree, which would be prohibited. Rather it only prevents damage to the cluster of grapes. Therefore, it is allowed on the sabbatical year.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מאבקין – roots that are revealed, they cover them with dust.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
מעשנין (fumigate) – underneath the tree to kill the worms growing on it.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sheviit
אף נוטל את העלין – on the Seventh Year itself, but the First Tanna/teacher did not say other than releasing the [overly luxirant growth of] leaves in the time added to/the supplement to the Seventh Year alone. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Shimon.
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