Editing Shmita (section)

{{Short description|Seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for the Land of Israel}}
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{{Infobox Halacha
  | image = PikiWiki Israel 39851 Agriculture in Israel.JPG
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  | verse = {{bibleverse||Exodus|23:10–11|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Leviticus|25:2–7|HE}} {{bibleverse||Leviticus|25:20–22|HE}} and {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|15:1–3|HE}}.
  | mishnah = [[Shevi'it (tractate)]]
  | talmud =
  | talmudy = [[Shevi'it (tractate)]]
  | rambam =
  | sa =
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}}
[[File:Shmita placard שלט שמיטה.jpg|thumb|Shmita placard in an agricultural field (in the year 5782)]]
The '''sabbath year''' ('''''shmita'''''; {{langx|he|שמיטה}}, literally "release"), also called the '''sabbatical year''' or ''shǝvi'it'' ({{Script/Hebrew|שביעית}}, literally "seventh"), or "Sabbath of The Land", is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the [[Torah]] in the [[Land of Israel]]  and is observed in [[Judaism]].<ref>This article incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), a publication now in the public domain. Sabbatical year—every seventh year, during which the land, according to the law of Moses, had to remain uncultivated (Lev. 25:2–7; comp. Ex. 23:10, 11, 12; Lev. 26:34, 35).</ref>

During ''shmita'', the land is left to lie [[fallow]] and all agricultural activity, including plowing, planting, pruning and harvesting, is forbidden by ''[[halakha]]'' (Jewish law). Other cultivation techniques (such as watering, fertilizing, weeding, spraying, trimming and mowing) may be performed as a preventive measure only, not to improve the growth of trees or other plants. Additionally, any fruits or herbs which [[Volunteer (botany)|grow of their own accord]] and where no watch is kept over them are deemed ''[[hefker]]'' (ownerless) and may be picked by anyone.<ref>[[Mishnah]] ''Shevi'it'' 9:1</ref> A variety of laws also apply to the sale, consumption and disposal of ''shmita'' produce. All debts, except those of foreigners, were to be [[History of debt relief|remitted]].<ref>{{bibleref2|Deut|15:1–11}}</ref>

Chapter 25 of the [[Book of Leviticus]] promises bountiful harvests to those who observe the ''shmita'', and describes its observance as a test of religious faith.

The most recent ''shmita'' year was 2021–2022 or [[Anno mundi]] 5782 in the [[Hebrew calendar]]. The next ''shmita'' cycle will be in 2028–2029, year 5789 in the Hebrew calendar.