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Sheviis Chapter 8, Mishnah 2: Shviis Perek Ches Mishnah Beis

Chavrusa Learning

Sheviis, Chapter 8, Mishnah 2. The Mishnah opens: "Sheviis nitnah la'achilah u'lishtiyah u'lesichah" - produce of the Sabbatical year was given for eating, for drinking and for anointing. As we have mentioned, produce of the Sabbatical year carries the sanctity of Sheviis, and a person is obligated to treat it with that sanctity - meaning to use it in the way such produce is normally used. The Mishnah therefore teaches that Sheviis produce is fit for eating, for drinking, or for anointing, as is done with oil.

The principle: according to the normal use of the fruit:

  • "Le'echol davar shedarko le'echol" - to eat items whose normal use is eating.

  • "Lasuch davar shedarko lasuch" - to anoint with items that are normally used for anointing.

The Mishnah therefore rules: "Lo yasuch yayin va'chomets" - a person may not anoint himself with wine or vinegar. Although they can sometimes be rubbed on the skin, their normal use is for eating and drinking, and that is the way they must be used.

In contrast, the Mishnah says: "Aval sach hu es hashemen" - but one may anoint and rub on oil. Even though oil is also fit for eating, anointing with oil is a normal use of it, and therefore Sheviis produce may be used for this purpose.

Terumah and Maaser Sheni:

"V'chein biTerumah u'v'Maaser Sheni" - these same rules apply to produce of Terumah and to produce of Maaser Sheni: they may be used for eating, for drinking and for anointing, and with them too - specifically with items whose normal use this is.

The leniency of Sheviis - lighting a lamp:

"Kal meihem sheviis, sheni'tnah l'hadlakas haner" - Sheviis has one leniency over Terumah and Maaser Sheni: oil of Sheviis may be used to light a lamp, since this is a normal use of oil.

A precise point should be noted: unlike Sheviis, pure Terumah may not be used as a source of light; but Terumah that has become tamei may be, as is well known, and this is what is called "oil for burning."

Oil of Maaser Sheni, however, is not fit for lighting a lamp, whether it is tamei or pure. Sheviis, in contrast, whether pure or tamei, is fit for lighting, because this is a normal use of oil.

In summary: in this Mishnah we learned that the sanctity of Sheviis requires that the produce be used in its normal manner - eating, drinking and anointing. Therefore one does not anoint with wine or vinegar, whose normal use is eating and drinking, but one does anoint with oil, whose normal use includes anointing. This rule applies to Terumah and Maaser Sheni as well, except that Sheviis has one leniency: oil of Sheviis may be used to light a lamp, whether pure or tamei, unlike pure Terumah and unlike Maaser Sheni.