Kilaayim - Chapter 7

When a person comes to sow [crops] next to a vineyard, he should move four cubits from the roots of the vines1 and sow.2 From a single vine, he should move six handbreadths away and sow.

If there was a row of vines, one next to each other - even 100 of them - it is not considered as a vineyard, but as a single vine. One must move [only] six handbreadths away from the row [before] sowing. If there were two rows, one must move four cubits away from every side before sowing.3

How many vines must there be in each row? Three or more.4

When does the above apply?5 When there are between four and eight cubits between each vine. If, however, there are eight cubits besides the place of the vines between the two rows, they are considered as distinct from each other. They are not considered as a single vineyard and there is no need to separate more than six handbreadths from each row. Similarly, if there are less than four cubits6 between each of [the two rows], they are considered as a single vine and it is [only necessary] to make a distinction of six handbreadths on each side.

If there were three rows, even though there are less than four cubits between them, they are considered as a vineyard, for we consider the middle row as if it does not exist.7 Similarly, if there were three rows and eight cubits or more between each row, one may sow between the rows.8

Therefore if a person sows his vineyard from the outset with an eight cubit separation left between each row, he is permitted to sow crops within it, leaving a distance of only six handbreadths between [the crops and] every row of vines.9 If, however, he sowed [crops] outside the vineyard, he must make a separation of four cubits from the outer row, as applies with regard to other vineyards.10 The laws [applying to the space] between the rows of this vineyard are not the same as those that apply to a vineyard whose center was devastated,11 for from the outset, he planted them in a separate manner.

When there was one row of vines in a field and another row in a field belonging to a colleague that was opposite it and close to it, [the two rows] can be combined to be considered as a vineyard12 although there is a private path, a communal path,13 or a fence which is less than ten handbreadths high14 provided there are less than eight cubits between them.

[The following rules apply if one] planted one row on ground level and one row on a terrace: If the terrace is ten handbreadths above ground level, they are not considered as a single entity.15 If it is lower than that, they are.16

[The following laws apply when] a vineyard has been devastated. If there are ten vines [whose produce] can be reaped in an area fit to harvest a se'ah [of grain]19 and they are planted two opposite two and one projecting like a tail or it is possible to see them as two rows of three, it is called a meager vineyard20 and it is forbidden to sow [crops] in it.

[The following laws apply when] a vineyard is not planted in rows, but rather randomly. If it is possible to see [the vines] as having been planted two opposite three,21 it is considered as a vineyard.22 If not, it is not considered a vineyard and it is sufficient to separate only six handbreadths from each individual vine before sowing.

When the base of the vines are [planted] opposite each other, but the branches are not growing opposite each other, it is considered a vineyard.23 If the branches are [growing] opposite each other, but the bases are not [planted] opposite each other, it is not considered a vineyard. If when the vines were thin, they were not [positioned] opposite each other, but when they grew thick, they were positioned opposite each other, it is considered a vineyard.

How should one know if the vines are planted opposite each other? He should take a measuring line and measure from one to the other.

[The following laws apply when] the middle of a vineyard has been devastated, but it remains complete on all its sides. If the empty portion in the center [has a diameter of] sixteen cubits, one may separate four cubits24 from the base of the vines on each side and sow in the midst of the empty portion.25 If [the diameter] is less than sixteen cubits, he should not bring seed there.26 If he did sow there, since he made a separation of four cubits from the vineyard's vines on all sides, [the produce] does not become hallowed.

Similarly, if an empty portion was left without vines between the end of the vineyard and its fence, it is called "a forsaken [portion of a] vineyard."27 If it is [at least] twelve cubits wide,28 one may [merely] separate four cubits from the vines and sow the remainder.

If it was less than twelve cubits wide, he should not bring seeds [to sow] there. If he did, since he made a separation of four cubits [between the seeds and the vineyard, the produce] does not become hallowed.29

When does the above apply? In a large vineyard.30 [The laws of] "a forsaken portion," by contrast, do not apply with regard to a small vineyard.31 Instead, one may make a separation of four cubits from the end of the vines and sow until the fence. Similarly, if there are eight cubits or more between each row of a large vineyard,32 [the laws of] "a forsaken portion," do not apply.33

If the fence surrounding the vineyard was less than ten handbreadths high or it was ten handbreadths high, but not four handbreadths wide,34 [the laws of] "a forsaken portion," do not apply.35 Instead, one should make a separation of four cubits from the base of the vines and sow until the barrier. Even if there are four and a half cubits between the vines and the barrier, he may sow the half cubit.

When a fence is ten handbreadths high or a trench is ten handbreadths and four handbreadths wide, it is permitted to plant a vineyard on one side and vegetables on the other side.36 Even if there is a barrier made of reeds [with spaces in between them], as long as there is less than three handbreadths between one reed and another,37 the fence is considered as separating between the vineyard and the vegetables.

[The following laws apply when] the fence separating between the vineyard and the vegetables is breached. If it is ten cubits or less, it is considered as an entrance and it is permitted. If the breach was more than ten [cubits], [it is] forbidden [to sow vegetables] opposite the open portion unless he moves the required measure away38 from the vines.

[The following rules apply when] there are many breaches39 in the fence.40 If the [portions of the fence that remain] standing are equal to those that have been breached, it is permitted as if there was no breach. If the breached portions exceed those which remain standing, he should not sow in front of all those open spaces unless he separates in the appropriate manner.41

When the partition of a vineyard is breached,42 [the court] tells [the owner]:43 "Close it." If he closed it and it was breached [again], [the court] tells him: "Close it." If he despairs and does not close it,44 [the produce] becomes hallowed.45

When a building is partially covered by a roof and partially open and vines are planted on one side, it is permissible to plant vegetables on the other. [The rationale is that] we consider it as if the end of the roof descends and closes [the area] off and creates a barrier between them.46 If he completes the roof, it is forbidden [to plant two species].47

[The following laws apply when] a trench that is ten [handbreadths] deep and four [handbreadths] wide passes through a vineyard. If it passes from the beginning of the vineyard to the end, [since] it appears as [passing] between two [separate] vineyards, it is permitted to sow [other crops] in it, provided the vines do not become draped over it, as we explained.51

If it did not pass from side to side,52 it is considered as a vat in the midst of a vineyard, in which instance even if it is ten [handbreadths] deep and four handbreadths wide or more, it is forbidden to sow within it unless the empty portion is at least sixteen cubits wide.53

A path54 between two vineyards resembles a vineyard that was devastated in its midst.55 If there are sixteen cubits between them, he may make a separation of four cubits on either side and sow in the remainder. If there was less than that between them, he should not bring seeds there.

[The following laws apply with regard to] a mound56 in a vineyard. If it is ten [handbreadths] high and four [handbreadths] wide,57 it is permitted to sow vegetables on its top as long as the branches of the vine do not touch58 it so that from above, there does not appear to be vegetables in the midst of the vineyard.

When does the above apply? [When the mound] is rectangular.59 If, however, the mound is circular, there must be an empty space of four handbreadths in its midst60 so that it will be separated from the earth and there must be three handbreadths of earth on its top.61

When there is a building in a vineyard, if it is three handbreadths or more62 by three handbreadths until four handbreadths,63 one may sow vegetables inside of it.64 If it is less than three handbreadths by three handbreadth, it is considered as closed65 and one should not sow [vegetables] within it.

When one vine is planted in a pit66 or in the midst of a trench, one must separate six handbreadths67 from it, [then] one may sow [other crops] in the remainder of the trench as one would do on flat ground. If the trench was ten handbreadths deep and there was a border on the edge of the trench with a top four handbreadths wide, it is forbidden to sow other crops inside of it even though one made a separation of six handbreadths.68

Similarly, when there is one vine that is surrounded by a fence that is ten handbreadths high and four handbreadths wide, one should not sow [other produce] in the entire area set off by the barriers69 even though one makes a separation of six handbreadths. If one made a separation of six handbreadths and sowed, however, the produce is not hallowed.70

What is the initial and preferred size of the separation one should make? Four cubits on every side.71 Afterwards, he may sow [other produce] in the remainder of the trench or in the remainder of the area surrounded by a fence.