217. Cutting Down Fruit Trees

33:11 It is forbidden to cut down a fruit-bearing tree, such as an olive tree that produces a quarter-kav of olives or a date tree that produces a kav of dates. (A kav is a measure of volume in the vicinity of a liter and a half.) However, such trees may be cut down to benefit other trees, which they are harming. One may also cut down such trees if he needs the space the trees are occupying or if the lumber is more valuable than the fruit of the tree.

33:12 Placing a container of hot water on one’s stomach may alleviate stomach pain but this should not be done because of the likelihood that one will spill the hot water and burn himself. (A closed utensil, like our hot water bottles, is not problematic – Mishnah Brurah 326:19.)