Q&A: Planting Trees During the Sabbatical Year
Planting Trees During the Sabbatical Year
Question
How is it possible to permit violating a Torah prohibition (planting during the Sabbatical year), even via a non-Jew? And if the commandment applies specifically to the person doing the planting, then there is nothing novel here (there would be nothing to permit).
Is planting by a non-Jew during the Sabbatical year valid in every Sabbatical year? If not, is encouraging a non-Jew to plant trees for a Jew a Torah violation?
Answer
I don’t understand these questions. In our times, the Sabbatical year is rabbinic according to the overwhelming majority of opinions. No one permits planting by a non-Jew on the basis of instructing a non-Jew. They sell the land to a non-Jew, and then the land is not obligated in the Sabbatical year. Beyond that, I didn’t understand anything.
Discussion on Answer
Where did you see a permission to plant through non-Jews? What’s the connection?
I assume the questioner meant this:
https://www.israelhayom.co.il/judaism/judaism-news/article/6969698