3,698. What Labors Are Prohibited During Shemittah?

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 1:2

Under Biblical law, one is only liable to the penalty of lashes for planting, pruning, and harvesting grain or fruit. This is true both of vineyards and of other trees.

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 1:3

Pruning is considered like planting, and harvesting fruit is considered like harvesting grain. So why does the Torah specify these particular labors? This is to teach that one is liable to lashes for performing these two subordinate labors, and only these two subordinate labors. When it comes to other subordinate labors of agriculture, as well as the primary categories of agricultural labor that were not mentioned by the Torah vis-à-vis shemittah, one is not liable to lashes, though one is given stripes for acting rebelliously.