"Gain and loss are not controlled by man but are in the hand of the Creator alone" No one can help you or harm you other than H'shem, always remember you are in good hands.
The floor of the house or patio may be washed during as usual during Shemittah even when the water spills into the yard below, when the person washing it only means to clean the floor, and is not interested in watering the plants or grass. Some authorities say that this intention should be made more apparent by adding soap to the water. Since soap does not help the plants grow, this demonstrates that they are cleaning, and not taking care of the plants.
Note, this discussion is dealing with a case in which the water flows into the person’s own yard, or in a yard shared by the building’s residents. All agree that soap need not be added when the water flows into a neighbor’s yard, for in this case the person washing the floor derives no benefit from the plants’ enhanced growth.
Hefker I
Aside from not cultivating the land during Shemittah, the produce that grows is also special. These foods are hefker, ownerless and publicly available, and are also sanctified, to only be used in certain ways. We will first discuss the laws of hefker.
A person must not do anything that will prevent people from taking the Shemittah foods growing on his property. This includes leaving the gate unlocked to allow people free entry. Personal space, however, such as the yard around one’s home, need not be left open to allow people wanting to collect Shemittah foods entry at all hours of day and night. Instead, a sign should be posted stating that the produce is hefker, and the time and place where the key is available.
The landowner may take small amounts of Shemittah foods growing on his trees or bushes for his personal use, just like everyone else.
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9 Cleaning the Floor
The floor of the house or patio may be washed during as usual during Shemittah even when the water spills into the yard below, when the person washing it only means to clean the floor, and is not interested in watering the plants or grass. Some authorities say that this intention should be made more apparent by adding soap to the water. Since soap does not help the plants grow, this demonstrates that they are cleaning, and not taking care of the plants.
Note, this discussion is dealing with a case in which the water flows into the person’s own yard, or in a yard shared by the building’s residents. All agree that soap need not be added when the water flows into a neighbor’s yard, for in this case the person washing the floor derives no benefit from the plants’ enhanced growth.
Hefker I
Aside from not cultivating the land during Shemittah, the produce that grows is also special. These foods are hefker, ownerless and publicly available, and are also sanctified, to only be used in certain ways. We will first discuss the laws of hefker.
A person must not do anything that will prevent people from taking the Shemittah foods growing on his property. This includes leaving the gate unlocked to allow people free entry. Personal space, however, such as the yard around one’s home, need not be left open to allow people wanting to collect Shemittah foods entry at all hours of day and night. Instead, a sign should be posted stating that the produce is hefker, and the time and place where the key is available.
The landowner may take small amounts of Shemittah foods growing on his trees or bushes for his personal use, just like everyone else.