Over what parts of current Israel do the laws of Shemittah apply? Do the laws apply to the West Bank (Judea and Samaria)?
asked Aug 3, 2014 at 16:06
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5I don't see why the political borders affect anything. I would argue that much of the Negev does not fall into Shemittah Israel, while the Territories, southern Lebanon, and parts of Jordan do. My source is the likely-innacurate map in the Artscroll Chumash and Tana"ch.– Noach MiFrankfurtAug 3, 2014 at 17:43
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On second thought, I'm not sure about 'Azza and the neighbouring Israeli coastline, which was historically Philistia.– Noach MiFrankfurtAug 3, 2014 at 18:36
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While J&S are definitely halachically part of Eretz Yisrael, a better question would be the Golan Heights.– ScimonsterAug 3, 2014 at 19:56
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Please supply sources for your two statements.– Avrohom YitzchokAug 4, 2014 at 16:53
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A full answer to this question would actually be very complicated... see the Mishnah in Sheviis chapter 6 and commentaries there; this question usually occupies a chapter or more in contemporary books on the laws of shmitah (maybe later I'll post a summary). Regarding the West Bank, though, you won't find a source that says explicitly that the laws apply, because the laws of shemittah don't recognize any differences based on current political bounderies. It would be like asking, "what's the source that the mitzvah of tzitzis applies on Wednesdays"– הנער הזהAug 13, 2014 at 0:46
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1 Answer
Judea and Samaria most certainly falls into halachic E.Y. borders. In fact, during the first two temples, that was the center of Jewish life. There may be questions regarding Azza, south of Negev (including Eilat), and the Golan.
