Kiddushin, Daf Lammed Het, Part 3
Introduction
The Talmud continues to discuss which mitzvoth apply both inside and outside the Land of Israel. The dispute here is really over how to we determine which mitzvoth are obligatory outside the Land of Israel can a commandment connected to the ground, such as mixed kinds of seeds or fruit during its first three years of growth, be obligatory outside of Israel?
תניא ר"ש בן יוחי אומר שלש מצות נצטוו ישראל בכניסתן לארץ ונוהגות בין בארץ בין בחוצה לארץ והוא הדין שינהגו ומה חדש שאין איסורו איסור עולם ואין איסורו איסור הנאה ויש היתר לאיסורו נוהג בין בארץ בין בח"ל כלאים שאיסורן איסור עולם ואיסורן איסור הנאה ואין היתר לאיסורן אינו דין שינהגו בין בארץ בין בח"ל והוא הדין לערלה בשתים
It was taught in a baraita: R. Shimon b. Yohai said: The Israelites were commanded to keep three mitzvoth on their entry into the Land, yet they are observed both inside and outside the Land, and it is logical that they should be observed. If new produce, whose prohibition is not permanent, and whose prohibition is not one of deriving benefit, and whose prohibition can be released, is [nevertheless] observed both inside and outside the Land; then mixed kinds, which are permanently forbidden, and whose prohibition is one of deriving benefit, and whose prohibition cannot be released, it surely follows that it is observed both inside and outside the Land; and the same logic applies to orlah on two [grounds].
R. Shimon b. Yohai uses the prohibition of new produce, which applies both inside and outside the land, as a precedent to prove that kilayim (mixed kinds) and orlah (fruit during the first three years of a tree s growth) are observed even outside of Israel. The prohibition of new produce is lenient in three ways: 1) It applies only to grain that grew before the omer was offered; 2) it is prohibited only to eat it. Other forms of benefit, such as selling it, are permitted; 3) once the omer sacrifice is offered on the 16th of Nissan, it becomes permitted. Nevertheless, this mitzvah is observed even outside the Land. Kilayim has none of these leniencies, and therefore it too should be observed even outside the Land. Orlah has one of these leniencies it applies only to fruit that grows during the first three years. But it does not have either of the other leniencies, and so it too should apply outside the Land.
רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון אומר כל מצוה שנצטוו ישראל קודם כניסתן לארץ נוהגת בין בארץ בין בחוצה לארץ לאחר כניסתן לארץ אינה נוהגת אלא בארץ חוץ מן השמטת כספים ושילוח עבדים שאע"פ שנצטוו עליהם לאחר כניסתן לארץ נוהגת בין בארץ בין בחוצה לארץ…
R. Elazar son of R. Shimon said: Any commandment which the Israelites were commanded before their entry into the Land are observed both inside and outside the Land; after their entry into the Land, are observed only within the Land, except release of money [debts] and liberation of slaves: though they were commanded concerning these after their entry into the Land, they are observed both inside and outside the Land.
R. Elazar son of R. Shimon says that if the Israelites were commanded to observe the mitzvah before they entered the Land, meaning that the obligation is not connected to the Land, then the mitzvah is observed both inside and outside the Land. But if the mitzvah is connected to the Land, then it is observed only within the Land. The two exceptions are release of monetary debts and the obligation to free slaves at the Jubilee year. While the latter is definitely connected to the Land, the Talmud below will question whether release of monetary debts is connected to the Land.