The produce of the fourth year (neta reva'i)1 is holy, as [Leviticus 19:24] states: "And in its fourth year, all of its produce shall be holy, consecrated unto God." The law applying to it is that it must be eaten in Jerusalem by its owners2 in the same way as the second tithe.3 Just as the laws of the second tithe do not apply in Syria,4 so too, the laws of neta reva'i do not apply in Syria.5
With regard to neta reva'i, [Numbers 5:10] states: "A person's consecrated property shall be his."6 For there is no other consecrated property about which the Torah does not inform to whom it should be given with the exception of neta reva'i.7
אנֶּטַע רְבָעִי הֲרֵי הוּא קֹדֶשׁ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יט כד) "וּבַשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִת יִהְיֶה כָּל פִּרְיוֹ קֹדֶשׁ הִלּוּלִים לַה'". וְדִינוֹ לְהֵאָכֵל בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם לִבְעָלָיו כְּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי בְּסוּרְיָא כָּךְ אֵין נֶטַע רְבָעִי בְּסוּרְיָא. וּבְנֶטַע רְבָעִי הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר ה י) "וְאִישׁ אֶת קֳדָשָׁיו לוֹ יִהְיוּ" שֶׁאֵין לְךָ קֹדֶשׁ שֶׁלֹּא נִתְפָּרֵשׁ דִּינוֹ בַּתּוֹרָה לְמִי שֶׁהוּא חוּץ מִנֶּטַע רְבָעִי:
A person who desires to redeem neta reva'i should redeem it in the same manner as which he redeems the produce of the second tithe.8 If he redeems it for his own self, he must add a fifth [to its value].9 It may not be redeemed until it reaches the "phase of tithing,"10 as [implied by Leviticus 19:25]: "To increase its produce for you," [i.e., these laws do not apply] until [the crops] have become produce.11
[Neta reva'i] may not be redeemed while it is attached [to the ground],12 as is the law with regard to the second tithe. And it is the property of the Most High, as is the second tithe.13 Therefore, it cannot be acquired when given as a present14 unless it was given when it was not yet ripe.15
With regard to other matters, e.g., eating, drinking, and redemption, the laws that apply to it are those applying to the second tithe.
בהָרוֹצֶה לִפְדּוֹת נֶטַע רְבָעִי פּוֹדֵהוּ כְּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וְאִם פָּדָהוּ לְעַצְמוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ. וְאֵין פּוֹדִין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעֲשֵׂר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יט כה) "לְהוֹסִיף לָכֶם תְּבוּאָתוֹ" עַד שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה תְּבוּאָה. וְאֵין פּוֹדִין אוֹתוֹ בִּמְחֻבָּר כְּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וַהֲרֵי הוּא מָמוֹן גָּבוֹהַּ כְּמַעֲשֵׂר. לְפִיכָךְ אֵינוֹ נִקְנֶה בְּמַתָּנָה אֶלָּא אִם נְתָנוֹ בֹּסֶר. וְדִינוֹ בִּשְׁאָר הַדְּבָרִים לְעִנְיַן אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וּפְדִיָּה כְּמַעֲשֵׂר:
When a person redeems a vineyard in its fourth year of growth, he may redeem it as grapes or he may redeem it as wine. Similarly, olives [may be redeemed as fruit or as oil].16 Other fruits, by contrast, may only be redeemed in their natural state.17
גוְהַפּוֹדֶה כֶּרֶם רְבָעִי רָצָה פּוֹדֵהוּ עֲנָבִים רָצָה פּוֹדֵהוּ יַיִן. וְכֵן הַזֵּיתִים. אֲבָל שְׁאָר הַפֵּרוֹת אֵין מְשַׁנִּין אוֹתָן מִבְּרִיָּתָן:
The laws of shichachah, pe'ah, peret, and ollelot do not apply to a vineyard that is in its fourth year.18 Nor should terumah and the tithes be separated from it, as they are not separated from the second tithe.19 Instead, it should be brought to Jerusalem in its entirety or redeemed and the money taken to Jerusalem [and used for food there] like the second tithe.
דכֶּרֶם רְבָעִי אֵין לוֹ לֹא שִׁכְחָה וְלֹא פֵּאָה וְלֹא פֶּרֶט וְלֹא עוֹלֵלוֹת. וְאֵין מַפְרִישִׁין מִמֶּנּוּ תְּרוּמָה וּמַעַשְׂרוֹת כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין מַפְרִישִׁין מִמַּעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. אֶלָּא כֻּלּוֹ עוֹלֶה לִירוּשָׁלַיִם אוֹ נִפְדֶּה וְיַעֲלוּ הַדָּמִים וְיֵאָכְלוּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם כְּמַעֲשֵׂר:
Our Sages ordained that grapes from a vineyard in its fourth year from a radius of a one-day journey from Jerusalem should be brought there to embellish the marketplaces of Jerusalem with fruit.20 After the Temple was destroyed, it may be redeemed even directly outside the city's wall.21 Other types of produce22 may be redeemed even directly outside the city's wall even during the time the Temple was standing.
העֲנָבִים שֶׁל כֶּרֶם רְבָעִי הִתְקִינוּ בֵּית דִּין שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עוֹלִין לִירוּשָׁלַיִם מַהֲלַךְ יוֹם לְכָל צַד כְּדֵי לְעַטֵּר שׁוּקֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם בְּפֵרוֹת. וּמִשֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ נִפְדֶּה אֲפִלּוּ סָמוּךְ לַחוֹמָה. וּשְׁאָר כָּל הַפֵּרוֹת אֲפִלּוּ בִּזְמַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ נִפְדִּין סָמוּךְ לַחוֹמָה:
Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)
Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.
How is neta reva'i redeemed? One should evaluate [the size of] a basket [of fruit] through the agency of three men who estimate how much produce would a person [want] for a sela that he would pay for this fruit when it is considered that [in addition] he would have to pay the cost of watchmen, donkey-drivers,23 and workers. After the rate is established, he should place down the money and say: "The holiness of all [the produce] gathered from this [orchard] is transferred to this money," estimating how many baskets worth a sela [the orchard] contains.
In the Sabbatical year,24 he should redeem [the produce of the orchard] for its worth. For in that year, there are no watchmen or workers [to pay].25 If [the orchard] was declared ownerless,26 all that is necessary to deduct is the wages for gathering it.27
וכֵּיצַד פּוֹדִין נֶטַע רְבָעִי. מֵנִיחַ אֶת הַסַּל עַל פִּי שְׁלֹשָׁה וְאוֹמְדִין כַּמָּה אָדָם רוֹצֶה לִפְדּוֹת לוֹ בַּסֶּלַע עַל מְנָת שֶׁיּוֹצִיא יְצִיאוֹת הַשּׁוֹמְרִים וְהַחֲמָרִים וְהַפּוֹעֲלִים מִבֵּיתוֹ. וְאַחַר שֶׁקּוֹצְבִין אֶת הַשַּׁעַר מַנִּיחַ אֶת הַמָּעוֹת וְאוֹמֵר כָּל הַנִּלְקָט מִזֶּה מְחֻלָּל עַל הַמָּעוֹת אֵלּוּ מִשַּׁעַר כָּךְ וְכָךְ סַלִּים בְּסֶלַע. וּבַשְּׁבִיעִית פּוֹדֵהוּ בְּשָׁוְיוֹ שֶׁאֵין שָׁם לֹא שׁוֹמְרִים וְלֹא פּוֹעֲלִים. וְאִם הָיָה הֶפְקֵר אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא שְׂכַר לְקִיטָה בִּלְבַד:
When a person had [an orchard that was in] its fourth year of growth in the Sabbatical year when everyone is allowed equal access to it, he must mark it with mounds of earth so that [those who take the produce] will recognize [its sacred quality] and not partake of it until they redeem it.28 If [the produce is] within the [three] orlah years,29 it should be marked with baked clay30 so that [people] will shun it. [We use clay instead of mounds of earth], lest the latter crumble.31 [The rationale is that] the prohibition of orlah is more severe, because benefit from it is forbidden.32
Those who are meticulous in their observance of the Torah's prohibitions33 would set aside money in the Sabbatical year and say: "The holiness of everything harvested from these fruits of the fourth year is transferred to this money."34 [The redemption must be carried out in this fashion,]35 because it is forbidden to redeem [the produce] while it is attached to the ground, as explained.36
זמִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ נֶטַע רְבָעִי בִּשְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה שֶׁיַּד הַכּל שָׁוָה צָרִיךְ לְצַיְּנוֹ בְּקוֹזָזוֹת אֲדָמָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּכִּירוּ בּוֹ. וְלֹא יֹאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד שֶׁיִּפָּדוּ. וְאִם הָיָה בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנֵי עָרְלָה מְצַיְּנִין אוֹתוֹ בַּחֲרָסִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפְרְשׁוּ מִמֶּנּוּ. שֶׁאִם צִיְּנוּ בְּקוֹזָזוֹת אֲדָמָה שֶׁמָּא יִתְפָּרְרוּ. שֶׁאִסּוּר עָרְלָה חָמוּר הוּא שֶׁהִיא אֲסוּרָה בַּהֲנָיָה. וְהַצְּנוּעִין הָיוּ מַנִּיחִין אֶת הַמָּעוֹת בִּשְׁנַת שְׁמִטָּה וְאוֹמְרִין כָּל הַנִּלְקָט מִפֵּרוֹת רְבָעִי אֵלּוּ מְחֻלָּל עַל הַמָּעוֹת הָאֵלּוּ שֶׁהֲרֵי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִפְדּוֹתוֹ בִּמְחֻבָּר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:
The first of Tishrei37 is the beginning of the year with regard to the reckoning of orlah and neta reva'i.
When do we begin counting the year with regard to these prohibitions? From the time the trees are planted. [A year does not have to be] from Rosh HaShanah to Rosh HaShanah. Instead, 30 days within a year are considered a year.38 [This applies] provided the planting takes root before these thirty days [begin]. How long does it take? Generally, the time for all trees to take root is two weeks.
חבְּאֶחָד בְּתִשְׁרֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְעָרְלָה וְלִרְבָעִי. וּמֵאֵימָתַי מוֹנִין לָהֶם מִשְּׁעַת נְטִיעָה. וְאֵינוֹ מוֹנֶה מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם בְּשָׁנָה חֲשׁוּבִין שָׁנָה. וְהוּא שֶׁתִּקְלֹט הַנְּטִיעָה קֹדֶם שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. וְכַמָּה הוּא סְתַם הַקְּלִיטָה לְכָל הָאִילָנוֹת שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת:
Thus when a person plants a tree 44 days before Rosh HaShanah, it is considered as if the tree had been planted for an entire year.39 Nevertheless, due to the prohibition of orlah, in the fourth year, the fruit from this planting is not permitted until the fifteenth of Shvat, which is "the New Year of the Trees."40
טנִמְצֵאת לָמֵד שֶׁהַנּוֹטֵעַ מ''ד יוֹם קֹדֶם רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה עָלְתָה לוֹ שָׁנָה. וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אֵין פֵּרוֹת הַנְּטִיעָה הַזֹּאת מֻתָּרוֹת בְּעָרְלָה אֶלָּא בִּרְבִיעִית עַד ט''ו בִּשְׁבָט שֶׁהוּא רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לָאִילָנוֹת:
What is implied? When a person plants a fruit tree on the fifteenth of Av41 of the tenth year in the Jubilee cycle, it is considered as being orlah until the fifteenth of Shvat of the thirteenth year of the Jubilee cycle. Whatever fruit produced42 by the tree during this time is orlah, even though it did not ripen until several days43 after [that date]. From the fifteenth of Shvat from the thirteenth year of the Jubilee cycle until the fifteenth of Shvat of the fourteenth year, the produce is neta reva'i. Whatever fruit produced during this time is neta reva'i and must be redeemed.44 If the year is declared a leap year, [the produce grown in] the extra month is considered as orlah or neta reva'i.45
יכֵּיצַד. הַנּוֹטֵעַ אִילַן מַאֲכָל בְּט''ו בְּאָב מִשָּׁנָה עֲשִׂירִית בַּיּוֹבֵל. הֲרֵי הוּא בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנֵי עָרְלָה עַד ט''ו בִּשְׁבָט מִשְּׁנַת י''ג. וְכָל מַה שֶּׁיּוֹצִיא הָאִילָן בְּתוֹךְ זְמַן זֶה הֲרֵי הוּא עָרְלָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּגְמְרוּ לְאַחַר כַּמָּה יָמִים. וּמִט''ו בִּשְׁבָט מִשְּׁנַת י''ג בְּיוֹבֵל עַד ט''ו בִּשְׁבָט מִשְּׁנַת י''ד הוּא נֶטַע רְבָעִי. וְכָל מַה שֶּׁיּוֹצִיא בְּתוֹךְ זְמַן זֶה הֲרֵי הוּא רְבָעִי וְצָרִיךְ פִּדְיוֹן. וְאִם נִתְעַבְּרָה הַשָּׁנָה נִתְעַבְּרָה לַעָרְלָה אוֹ לַרְבָעִי:
If it was planted on the sixteenth of Av46 in the tenth year, the tenth year is not reckoned for it. Instead, it is orlah throughout the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth years. And it is neta reva'i from Rosh HaShanah47 of the fourteenth year until its conclusion.
יאנִטְעַן בְּשִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּאָב מִשְּׁנַת עֶשֶׂר לֹא עָלְתָה לוֹ שְׁנַת עֶשֶׂר אֶלָּא הֲרֵי הוּא עָרְלָה שְׁנַת י''א וְי''ב וְי''ג כֻּלָּהּ. וַהֲרֵי הוּא נֶטַע רְבָעִי מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה שֶׁל שְׁנַת י''ד עַד סוֹפָהּ:
If one planted the tree between the first of Tishrei and the fifteenth of Shvat, he should count three years from day to day for orlah and [four years] from day to day for neta reva'i.48 I have seen Geonim who have a different approach49 regarding the reckoning of orlah and neta reva'i. It is not appropriate to elaborate in rebuttal of them. Theirs is a scholarly error and we have already outlined the true path.
יבנָטַע הַנְּטִיעָה מֵרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ תִּשְׁרֵי עַד ט''ו בִּשְׁבָט מוֹנֶה לָהּ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים מִיּוֹם לְיוֹם לְעָרְלָה וּמִיּוֹם לְיוֹם לִרְבָעִי. וְרָאִיתִי לַגְּאוֹנִים דְּבָרִים בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן עָרְלָה וּרְבָעִי אֵין רָאוּי לְהַאֲרִיךְ וּלְהָשִׁיב עֲלֵיהֶן וּבְוַדַּאי טָעוּת סוֹפְרִים הֵם וְהָאֱמֶת כְּבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ דַּרְכָּהּ:
Leaves, blossoms, sap, and fruit buds,50 are permitted in [the years of] orlah and neta reva'i.51 Grapes that were devastated by the west wind and ruined, grape seeds, grape peels, water mixed with grape dregs, the peels of pomegranates, their flowers, the shells of nuts, and seeds within a fruit are forbidden with regard to orlah52 and permitted with regard to neta reva'i.53 Fruit that withers and falls from the tree are forbidden in all instances.54
יגהֶעָלִין וְהַלּוּלָבִין וּמֵי גְּפָנִים וְהַסְּמָדַר מֻתָּרִין בְּעָרְלָה וּבִרְבָעִי. וְהָעֲנָבִים שֶׁשְּׂרָפָם (נ"א ששדפן) הַקָּדִים וְהִפְסִידָן וְהַחַרְצַנִּים וְהַזַּגִּין וְהַתֶּמֶד שֶׁלָּהֶן וּקְלִפֵּי רִמּוֹן וְהַנֵּץ שֶׁלּוֹ וּקְלִפֵּי אֱגוֹזִים וְהַגַּרְעִינִים אֲסוּרִין בְּעָרְלָה וּמֻתָּרִין בִּרְבָעִי. וְהַנּוֹבְלוֹת כֻּלָּן אֲסוּרוֹת:
