Discarding Shemitah produce-Forbidden to destroy, cause loss or damage:
It is forbidden to cause loss or damage to Shemitah produce.[1] It is however permitted to cause indirect loss to Shemitah produce.[2]
Shemitah garbage: It is forbidden to discard Shemitah produce within a regular garbage bag as doing so is a belittlement to the food as well as hastens its spoilage. Thus one is to set aside all Shemitah products into a separate bag and wait until the food spoils. Once the food has rotted one may discard it in the trash. One may not use the same Shemitah bag for all the weekly leftover foods and rather is to use a separate bag for each days produce.
Q&A
If only one of the ingredients contain Kedushas Sheviis, must the entire food be treated with Kedusha?[3]
If the taste of the ingredient is felt within the food then the entire food is to be treated with Kedushas Sheviis.
May one spill the liquid used to cook Kedushas Sheviis products?
Those liquids of foods that are commonly discarded do not receive Kedushas Sheviis and may be discarded regularly.
Must one place the peels of Shemitah products into the special Shemitah bag?
All edible peels must be discarded in the Shemitah bag. Thus peels of apples and edible orange peels must be set aside in a Shemitah bag.[4] Likewise all inedible peels that contain fruit on them must likewise be discarded in the Shemitah bag.[5] Those peels that are inedible and do not contain fruit may be discarded regularly. Those peels that are inedible for humans but are edible for animals must be discarded appropriately.[6]
Banana peels:[7] The peels of bananas may be discarded regularly and does not require a Shemitah bag.
Must one place the pits of Shemitah products into the special Shemitah bag?[8]
Those pits that are inedible may be discarded regularly even if they contain fruit on them, if the fruit is less than a Kezayis.
May one discard withered lettuce leaves of Kedushas Sheviis?[9]
No. They are to be placed aside to rot and may then be discarded.
May one regularly wash his Shemitah dishes or must he save the leftovers of the food?[10]
One may wash his dishes regularly if they contain less than one Kezayis of Shemitah produce on them.
Is one obligated to eat Shemitah produce if lack of doing so will cause it to rot or go to waste?[11]
No. There is no obligation to eat Shemitah produce even if lack of doing so will cause the food to rot.
May one give Shemitah produce to children to eat if they will cause parts of it to go to waste?[12]
Yes.[13]
Mashing and grinding Shemitah produce:
It is forbidden to use Shemitah produce for an uncommon use.[14]Thus all fruits and vegetables that are commonly ground or mashed may likewise have this done even if they are Shemitah produce. This includes tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, beets, apples. However those fruits and vegetables that are not commonly mashed or ground may not have this done is they are a Shemitah product. It is permitted however to mash these foods for the sake of children.
Squeezing and juicing Shemitah produce:[15] It is only permitted to juice fruits and vegetables that are commonly juiced during the year. This includes grapes, olives, oranges, grapefruits, and lemons.
Q&A
What is one to do with the leftover fruit after squeezing the fruit?
It must either be eaten or put aside until it spoils.
May one use a Shemitah lemon peel to clean dishes?
No.
May one peel off an edible peel from Shemitah produce?
Yes. However the peel is to be discarded in the Shemitah garbage.
Shemitah wine
May one use Shemitah wine for Kiddush?[16]
One may only do so if the Shemitah wine that spills on the plate will not go to waste and will also be drunk.
May one use Shemitah wine for Havdala?
One may only do so if the Shemitah wine that spills on the plate will not go to waste and will also be drunk. One is thus not to dip the Havdala candle into the wine or place his fingers in it as is normally accustomed.
May one cook Shemitah wine?
Some Poskim[17] rule it is permitted to do so.[18]
May one make raisins from Shemitah grapes?[19]
Yes.
Shemitah oil
May one use Shemitah oil to light Shabbos candles?[20]
Yes
May one use Shemitah oil to light Chanukah candles?[21]
No.
May one use Shemitah oil for smearing on a baking pan or frying pan?
No.
[1] This is learned from the verse which says that the Shemitah foods are given “Leachlah” to eat, from which the Sages derive that it is not given for loss or damage.
[2] See Ridbaz 5/5
[3] Grach Naah 13
[4] Grach Naah 15
[5] See Minchas Yerushalayim 7/17; Chazon Ish 14/10
[6] Grach Naah 17
[7] Grach Naah p. 57
[8] Grach Naah p. 57
[9] Grach Naah 12
[10] Grach Naah p. 56; Sefer Shemitah Kehilchasa 3/4; Minchas Yerushalayim 7/18
[11] Rambam 5/3; Toras Hashemitah 12/40; Chazon Ish Sheviis 14/10
[12] Ridbaz on Peas Hashulchan 5/5; Grach Naah 14
[13] The reason: As it is permitted to cause indirect loss to Shemitah produce.
[14] Rambam 5/3
[15] Chazon Ish Sheviis 25/32; Grach Naah 15; See Toras Hashemitah p. 22
[16] See Ridbaz on Peas Hashulchan 5/18
[17] Ridbaz 24/6; Toras Hashemitah p. 23; See Peas Hashulchan 24/6 for the two opinions in this matter
[18] The reason: Although the wine will be diminished through the cooking process nevertheless this enhances the wine and is hence permitted.
[19] Peas Hashulchan 24/4
[20] Rambam 5/8
[21] Ridbaz 25/9; Imrei Yosher; Shevet Halevi 1/184; Minchas Shlomo 42
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