Kil'ayim (or Klayim; ) are the prohibitions in Jewish law which proscribe the planting of certain mixtures of seeds,

grafting Grafting or graftage is a horticulture, horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion () while the lower part is called the roots ...

, the mixing of plants in

vineyard A vineyard ( , ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines. Many vineyards exist for winemaking; others for the production of raisins, table grapes, and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is kno ...

s, the

crossbreeding A crossbreed is an organism with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. A domestic animal of unknown ancestry, where the breed status of only one parent or grandparent is known, may also be called a crossbreed though ...

of animals, the formation of a team in which different kinds of animals work together, and shatnez, or the mixing of wool with linen in garments. The prohibitions are derived from the

Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...

in and , and the

Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...

in tractate Kilʾayim, which has a

Gemara The Gemara (also transliterated Gemarah, or in Yiddish Gemore) is an essential component of the Talmud, comprising a collection of rabbinical analyses and commentaries on the Mishnah and presented in 63 books. The term is derived from the Aram ...

in the

Jerusalem Talmud The Jerusalem Talmud (, often for short) or Palestinian Talmud, also known as the Talmud of the Land of Israel, is a collection of rabbinic notes on the second-century Jewish oral tradition known as the Mishnah. Naming this version of the Talm ...

, further elaborates on the applicable circumstances.

Prohibitions

The Torah (; ) lists several different examples of mixtures that are prohibited as mixed species. The

halakha ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Torah, Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is ...

classifies the prohibitions under the following categories:Wald, Stephen (2007) * interbreeding of animals of different species * planting mixed seeds *

of different species of trees * shatnez - mixing wool and linen in garments * planting grain or seed crops in a vineyard * ploughing or doing other work with two different species of animal.

Permitted and forbidden instances

In fabrics

The

613 commandments According to Jewish tradition, the Torah contains 613 commandments (). Although the number 613 is mentioned in the Talmud, its real significance increased in later medieval rabbinic literature, including many works listing or arranged by the . Th ...

in the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. '' wool Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...

and

linen Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong and absorbent, and it dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. Lin ...

fabrics that have been hackled together, or spun and woven together. Likewise, "intertying" sheep wool and linen together is forbidden, the two exceptions being the məʿīl or robe of the Temple priests and the

tzitzit ''Tzitzit'' ( ''ṣīṣīṯ'', ; plural ''ṣīṣiyyōṯ'', Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazi: '; and Samaritan Hebrew, Samaritan: ') are specially knotted ritual Fringe (trim), fringes, or tassels, worn in antiquity by Israelites and today by o ...

. Concerning tzitzit, the Chazal "Sages" of

Rabbinic Judaism Rabbinic Judaism (), also called Rabbinism, Rabbinicism, Rabbanite Judaism, or Talmudic Judaism, is rooted in the many forms of Judaism that coexisted and together formed Second Temple Judaism in the land of Israel, giving birth to classical rabb ...

permit using wool and linen strings in tandem only when genuine

tekhelet ''Tekhelet'' ( ''təḵēleṯ''; also transliterated ''tekheleth'', ''t'chelet'', ''techelet'', and ''techeiles'') is a highly valued blue dye that held great significance in history of the Mediterranean region, ancient Mediterranean civil ...

dye is available, whereas kabbalist sources go a step further by encouraging this practice. The Torah forbids only wool and linen to be worn together. Kiara, S. (1987), Hil. ''Kil'ayim'', p. 390

Camel hair Camel hair specifically refers to the fur from the body of a camel, but more generally refers to the fibre (and cloth) that may be made from either pure camel hair or a blend of camel hair and another fibre. Camel hair has two components: ''guard ...

cashmere wool Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from cashmere goats, Changthangi, pashmina goats, and some other breeds of goat. It has been used to make yarn, textiles and clothing for hundreds of years. Cashmere is closely ...

, yak fiber, and the like are not prohibited from being worn with linen. According to

Maimonides Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (, ) and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam (), was a Sephardic rabbi and Jewish philosophy, philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah schola ...

, if a Jew had purchased an all-woolen product from a gentile and wanted to ascertain whether or not it was, indeed, pure wool – without the admixture of flax-linen, its fabric could be tested by dyeing. A dye solution applied to the fabric would reveal whether it was pure wool, as wool and linen products do not retain the same shades in a dye solution.

In plantings

The prohibition of sowing together diverse seedlings is derived from the biblical verse, "You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed" (), and which prohibition has been explained to mean planting or sowing two or more diverse vegetable crops within a radius of three- handbreadths, ca. , from one another, where they draw nutrients from each other. As a first resort, however, one is to distance two or more diverse vegetable crops from each other at a remove of six-handbreadths, ca. , even if their foliage were to grow and intermix. Two or more diverse seed-crops must be distanced enough so as to be distinguished from each other as two separate plantings. The prohibition not only applies to sowing together diverse kinds, but also hoeing the ground wherein diverse kinds were sown together, as well as covering them over in top soil, whether by one's foot, or by hand, or by any implement. The same prohibition applies to when they were sown together in a flower pot that was perforated at the bottom. If an entire field was planted with one kind of seedling, but next to that field was another field planted with a diverse kind (whether seedlings or a vegetable crop), the separation distance between the two fields must be 10.2

cubits The cubit is an ancient unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It was primarily associated with the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Israelites. The term ''cubit'' is found in the Bible regarding Noa ...

, about at the very least. The laws governing diverse seed-plantings or vegetables apply only to crops grown in the

Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine. The definition ...

, but do not apply to seed-crops or vegetables planted outside the Land of Israel. Aharon HaLevi (1958), mitzvah # 245 Likewise, these prohibitions do not apply to diverse seedlings that are planted purely for their medicinal use. (reprinted from 1922 and 1938 editions of the Hebrew Publishing Co., New York) According to biblical exegete

Nachmanides Moses ben Nachman ( ''Mōše ben-Nāḥmān'', "Moses son of Nachman"; 1194–1270), commonly known as Nachmanides (; ''Nakhmanídēs''), and also referred to by the acronym Ramban (; ) and by the contemporary nickname Bonastruc ça Porta (; l ...

, the reason for its prohibition being that when seedlings draw nutrients from other seedlings, their properties and natural forms are changed thereby and the sower cancels thereby the fixed design and purpose of the universe. Diverse seed-plantings or vegetables that grew together in violation of the biblical command are permitted to be eaten, although the crop itself must be uprooted. If two diverse grain seeds (e.g. wheat and barley) were inadvertently mixed together, they must be separated before they can be sown. If, however, there were 24 parts more of one grain than the other (ratio of 24 to 1), the lesser grain is considered cancelled by the other, and may still be sown together. If there were not 24 parts more than the mixed grain, the whole must be sorted.

Specific permitted and forbidden species

The first chapter of Mishnah Kil'ayim permits the growing together of certain plants, although the members of each pair belong to two different kinds. An example is certain species of

Poaceae Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivate ...

(the grass family). Wheat and tares belong to different genera (

Triticum Wheat is a group of wild and domesticated grasses of the genus ''Triticum'' (). They are cultivated for their cereal grains, which are staple foods around the world. Well-known wheat species and hybrids include the most widely grown comm ...

and Lolium, respectively), but resemble each other in both their seeds and their leaves. Tares are often found growing in wheat fields. Its seeds may germinate several years after being planted so that its growth could not always be prevented. This argument has been used to explain why it was not prohibited to have wheat and tares growing together in the same field. The rabbinic treatise develops the principle that a planter should not only be concerned with the mixing together of different classes of items but also with the appearance of such intermixing, such that if the two kinds are similar in appearance but different genera, this can, at times, be tolerated. The

in tractate Kilʾayim 1:1 explicitly permits faba beans (''Vicia faba'', ) and

mung beans The mung bean or green gram (''Vigna radiata'') is a plant species in the legume family.Brief Introduction of Mung Bean. Vigna Radiata Extract Green Mung Bean Extract Powder Phaseolus aureus Roxb Vigna radiata L R Wilczek. MDidea-Extracts P ...

(''Vigna radiata''; ''Vigna mungo'', ) to be planted together, as they are considered

homogeneous Homogeneity and heterogeneity are concepts relating to the uniformity of a substance, process or image. A homogeneous feature is uniform in composition or character (i.e., color, shape, size, weight, height, distribution, texture, language, i ...

. It also permits the planting of white mustard (''Sinapis alba'', ) and of Egyptian mustard ('' Rhamphospermum nigrum'', ) together (''Kil'ayim'
1:2
, as they, too, are considered to be homogeneous, despite being two different

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

. However, white mustard (''Sinapis alba'', ) and charlock mustard, also known as wild mustard (''Sinapis arvensis'', ), though also similar in appearance, may not be planted together (ibid
1:5
, as they are considered

heterogeneous Homogeneity and heterogeneity are concepts relating to the uniformity of a substance, process or image. A homogeneous feature is uniform in composition or character (i.e., color, shape, size, weight, height, distribution, texture, language, i ...

. J. Feliks maintained that while the two vegetables are similar regarding their leaves, yellow flowers, and taste, they are considered diverse-kinds because of a difference in their roots. Accordingly, the plant's roots become the ultimate criterion for determination of some diverse kinds.

Cucumber The cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the family Cucurbitaceae that bears cylindrical to spherical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.muskmelons (), although they are two different species, are not considered "diverse kinds" to each other and may be planted together. Rabbi Yehudah, disputing, says that they are considered "diverse kinds" to each other and cannot be planted together. Although two different species, the Mishnah, Kilʾayim 1:3, permits planting together turnips ('' Brassica rapa'' subsp. ''rapa'', ) with

rapeseed Rapeseed (''Brassica napus'' subsp. ''napus''), also known as rape and oilseed rape and canola, is a bright-yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage family), cultivated mainly for its oil-rich seed, which naturall ...

(''Brassica napus'' subsp. ''napus''; ). Likewise,

cauliflower Cauliflower is one of several vegetables cultivated from the species '' Brassica oleracea'' in the genus '' Brassica'', which is in the Brassicaceae (or mustard) family. Cauliflower usually grows with one main stem that carries a large, rou ...

(''Brassica oleracea botrytis'', ) and

kohlrabi Kohlrabi (; pronounced in English; scientific name ''Brassica oleracea'' Gongylodes Group (horticulture), Group), also called German turnip or turnip cabbage, is a Biennial plant, biennial vegetable, a low, stout cultivar of wild cabbage. It is ...

(''Brassica var. caulorapa'') (), although different species, are permitted to be planted together.

, in his commentary on the same Mishnah, explained the word ''karūb'' as having the Judeo-Arabic connotation of , meaning either

cabbage Cabbage, comprising several cultivars of '' Brassica oleracea'', is a leafy green, red (purple), or white (pale green) biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads. It is descended from the wild cabbage ( ''B.& ...

(''Brassica oleracea'' var. ''capitata'') or

kale Kale (), also called leaf cabbage, belongs to a group of cabbage (''Brassica oleracea'') cultivars primarily grown for their Leaf vegetable, edible leaves; it has also been used as an ornamental plant. Its multiple different cultivars vary quite ...

(''Brassica oleracea var. acephala''). Conversely,

radish The radish (''Raphanus sativus'') is a flowering plant in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. Its large taproot is commonly used as a root vegetable, although the entire plant is edible and its leaves are sometimes used as a leaf vegetable. Origina ...

('' Raphanus raphanistrum'', ) and

rape Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person ...

() cannot be planted together (Kilʾayim 1:5). Jonah maintains that while the two vegetables are similar in respect to both their leaves and their fruits, they are considered diverse-kinds because of a difference in taste. Neither can the Egyptian gourd (Cultivar of ''

Cucumis melo ''Cucumis melo'', also known as melon, is a species of ''Cucumis'' that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. The fruit is a pepo. The flesh is either sweet or bland, with or without an aroma, and the rind can be smooth (such as ho ...

'', ) be planted together with the Grecian gourd ('' Lagenaria vulgaris'', ), as they too are heterogeneous according to Mishnah Kilʾayim 1:5)

Grafting of trees

The prohibition of grafting of trees is treated on in the

(''Kil'ayim'' 1:4). The prohibition applies to trees growing in the Land of Israel, as well as to trees growing outside the Land of Israel. Among trees, while it is permissible to grow two different kinds of trees in close proximity to each other, it is forbidden for an Israelite (or a gentile working on behalf of an Israelite) to graft the branch (scion) of one tree onto the stump of another tree to produce thereby a hybrid fruit if the trees are not one and the same kind.

Quince The quince (; ''Cydonia oblonga'') is the sole member of the genus ''Cydonia'' in the Malinae subtribe (which contains apples, pears, and other fruits) of the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree that bears hard, aromatic bright golden-yel ...

(''Cydonia oblonga'', ) is named as an exception, for if a branch taken from it were grafted onto a stump belonging to hawthorn ('' Crataegus azarolus'', ), although they are two different species, it is permitted since they are considered related in Mishna, ''Kil'ayim'' 1:4. Likewise, to graft the branch of ''Krustemelin'' (said to be the "Calaprice pears") onto the rootstock of an ordinary

pear Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in late summer into mid-autumn. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus ''Pyrus'' , in the Family (biology), family Rosaceae, bearing the Pome, po ...

(''Pyrus communis'') is permitted. However,

apple An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...

(''Malus domestica'', ) grafted onto medlars (''

Mespilus germanica ''Mespilus germanica'', known as the medlar or common medlar, is a large shrub or small tree in the rose family Rosaceae. When the genus ''Mespilus'' is included in the genus ''Crataegus'', the correct name for this species is ''Crataegus german ...

'', ), or

peach The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and Agriculture, cultivated in China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties called necta ...

(''Prunus persica'', ) grafted onto almond trees (''

Prunus dulcis The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree from the genus ''Prunus''. Along with the peach, it is classified in the subgenus ''Amygdalus'', distinguished from the other subgenera by corrugations on the sh ...

'', ), or

jujube Jujube (UK ; US or ), sometimes jujuba, scientific name ''Ziziphus jujuba'', and also called red date, Chinese date, and Chinese jujube, is a species in the genus '' Ziziphus'' in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. It is often confused wit ...

(''Ziziphus jujuba'', ) grafted onto Christ's thorn jujube (''

Ziziphus spina-christi ''Ziziphus spina-christi'', known as the Christ's thorn jujube, is a thorny and an evergreen tree or plant native to the Levant, East Africa, and Mesopotamia. Ecology In the Levant, it grows in valleys up to an elevation of 500 m, and is d ...

'', ), although similar in appearance, are "diverse kinds." The fruit produced by grafting the bud of one dissimilar tree onto the rootstock of the other are permitted to be consumed by Israel, although the trees themselves, according to some authorities, are not permitted to be maintained. Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, uncertain about the identity of the trees mentioned in the Mishna owing to conflicting opinions, made it a rule to be stringent in all of them, prohibiting their grafting in all cases. A Jew who transgressed by grafting two dissimilar trees was formerly liable to flogging according to '' Kiddushin'' 39a. The prohibition of grafting two dissimilar trees applies to trees in the

and trees outside it whether trees belong to a Jew or a gentile.

Vineyards

A vineyard ( ''kérem'', plural ''karmim'') is defined as at least five vines growing together, two of which are planted alongside an opposite row containing two vines, with the fifth vine tailing the others.Mishnah Kil'ayim 6:1 (Maimonides commentary) A trellis () is where five vines are planted together in a single row. The Chazal described the prohibition of growing diverse kinds in a

strictly from a biblical perspective as referring only to two-grain varieties (such as wheat and barley) planted with a grape, or either with

hemp Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a plant in the botanical class of ''Cannabis sativa'' cultivars grown specifically for industrial and consumable use. It can be used to make a wide range of products. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest ...

and arum, or similar plants which reach maturity with the grain. Aharon HaLevi (1958), mitzvah # 548 By a rabbinic prohibition, however, it is not permitted to plant or maintain a vineyard while the vineyard shares the same immediate ground with any vegetable or seed-crop grown for food (e.g. mustard seeds,

chickpea The chickpea or chick pea (''Cicer arietinum'') is an annual plant, annual legume of the family (biology), family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, cultivated for its edible seeds. Its different types are variously known as gram," Bengal gram, ga ...

s, etc.). The result of doing so would be to cause its owner to forfeit the seed-crop together with the increase of the vineyard thereof as explained in Deuteronomy 22:9: "Lest all should be forfeited together with the increase of the vineyard." The rabbis made it incumbent upon husbandmen and vine-dressers to distance their seed crops from a vineyard. According to

, if a trellised vine of at least five plantings was made alongside a fence or a wall, even if the stumps of the grape-vines were distant from the wall one

cubit The cubit is an ancient unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It was primarily associated with the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Israelites. The term ''cubit'' is found in the Bible regarding Noah ...

, the planter of seed is only permitted to sow seed four

beyond the wall or fence (about two meters), since the grapevine is prone to spread itself as far as the wall. There must always be at least four cubits between a vineyard and the seed crop. Certain plants that grow of themselves in a vineyard, such as lianas (''

Cissus ''Cissus'' is a genus of approximately 350 species of lianas (Woody plant, woody vines) in the grape family (Vitaceae). They have a cosmopolitan distribution, though the majority are to be found in the tropics. Decription Extrafloral nectaries ...

'' spp.), bindweed ('' Convolvulus'' spp.), sweet clover ('' Melilotus''), the anemone (''

Anemone coronaria ''Anemone coronaria'', the poppy anemone, Spanish marigold, or windflower, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. Description ''Anemone coronaria'' is a herbaceous perennial ...

''), are not accounted as "diverse kinds" in a vineyard, to cause its owner to forfeit the crop of the vineyard altogether. If, however, either za'atar ('' Origanum syriacum'', ''ezov''), or whorled savory (''

Satureja thymbra ''Satureja thymbra'', commonly known as savory of Crete, whorled savory, pink savory, and Roman hyssop (Arabic Language, Arabic: ''za'atar rumi''; ''za'atar franji''), is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the family (biology), family Lamiaceae, ha ...

'', ), or dyer's croton (''

Chrozophora tinctoria ''Chrozophora tinctoria'' (commonly known as dyer's croton, giradol, turnsole or dyer's litmus plant) is a plant species native to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and Central Asia. It is also present as a weed in North Americ ...

'', ), white-leaved savory ('' Micromeria fruticosa'', ), or mallows (''

Malva sylvestris ''Malva sylvestris'' is a species of the mallow genus ''Malva'', of which it the type species. Known as common mallow to English-speaking Europeans, it acquired the common names of cheeses, high mallow and tall mallow (mauve des bois by the Fre ...

'', ), grape hyacinth ('' Muscari commutatum'', ), or saffron (''

Crocus ''Crocus'' (; plural: crocuses or croci) is a genus of seasonal flowering plants in the family Iridaceae (iris family) comprising about 100 species of perennial plant, perennials growing from corms. They are low growing plants, whose flower stem ...

'' spp., ), Egyptian cucumber (''

var. chate'', ),

calabash Calabash (; ''Lagenaria siceraria''), also known as bottle gourd, white-flowered gourd, long melon, birdhouse gourd, New Guinea bean, New Guinea butter bean, Tasmania bean, and opo squash, is a vine grown for its fruit. It can be either harvest ...

(), muskmelon (''

'', ), or beetroot (''

Beta vulgaris ''Beta vulgaris'' (beet) is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Betoideae of the family Amaranthaceae. Economically, it is the most important crop of the large order Caryophyllales. It has several cultivar groups: the sugar beet, of gre ...

'', ) The common denominator between these plants is that, in the Land of Israel during Mishnaic times, if they were seen growing in places other than in a vineyard, their owners would have been interested in their upkeep and maintenance, due to some benefit derived from these plants, such as when they are used as animal fodder, or for human consumption, or for medicinal purposes. Their presence in a vineyard, if they are allowed to grow unmolested () shows willful negligence in what concerns this prohibitory law of Diverse kinds. The same rule applies to other plants not specifically named in the

Tosefta The Tosefta ( "supplement, addition") is a compilation of Jewish Oral Law from the late second century, the period of the Mishnah and the Jewish sages known as the '' Tannaim''. Background Jewish teachings of the Tannaitic period were cha ...

''Kil'ayim'' 3:12, but which plants may have special and common usage among the people of a certain place where he has made his residence, and which plants grow in his vineyard, even outside the Land of Israel.

(''Kil'ayim'' 5:8), Commentary of ''Hilketha Gaviratha'' in Suppose thorn bushes, such as camelthorn ('' Alhagi maurorum'', ) and boxthorn ('' Lycium shawii'', ), grew within a vineyard. In that case, they are not accounted as seed crops and may be sustained in a vineyard, with the rabbis giving them the classification of trees amongst trees. However, in places where thorn bushes are used as fodder for camels, and the owner of the vineyard is content to have the thorn bushes grow in his vineyard to that end, the thorn bushes, if maintained, would render the entire vineyard forbidden. By a rabbinic injunction, the prohibition of growing diverse seed-crops in a vineyard extends to vineyards vintaged by Jews outside the

. (reprinted from Jerusalem editions, 1907, 1917 and 1988) In reference to the mixed seed planted in a vineyard, the law is only transgressed when

wheat Wheat is a group of wild and crop domestication, domesticated Poaceae, grasses of the genus ''Triticum'' (). They are Agriculture, cultivated for their cereal grains, which are staple foods around the world. Well-known Taxonomy of wheat, whe ...

barley Barley (), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains; it was domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around 9000 BC, giving it nonshattering spikele ...

, and grape seed are sown simultaneously in that vineyard. The reason for this prohibition, according to

, is to avoid imitating the custom of the people in olden days who would sow barley and stones of grape together, in the belief that the vineyard could only prosper in this way. The planter transgresses the biblical command from the moment grain begins to take root within a vineyard, and the grapes have reached the size of

cowpea The cowpea (''Vigna unguiculata'') is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus '' Vigna''. Its tolerance for sandy soil and low rainfall have made it an important crop in the semiarid regions across Africa and Asia. It requires very few inpu ...

s (''Vigna unguiculata''). By a rabbinic decree, other seed-crops are forbidden to be planted in a vineyard. Had a person transgressed and grew a seed-crop within his vineyard, not only is the produce forbidden to be eaten, but also had he sold the produce, the proceeds accruing from the sale of such produce are also forbidden, and must be burnt, together with the vineyard. The practical bearing of this rabbinic edict is in respect of someone who came along and maliciously sowed Diverse seedlings in his neighbor's vineyard where there is beginning to grow nascent fruit. In such a case, the rabbinic authority has prohibited the seed crop (requiring its burning), but the vineyard and its fruit are still permitted., s.v. ''responsum'' no. 388:2 (Hil. Kil'ayim) The reason for this leniency is because most seedlings sown in a vineyard are only a rabbinic prohibition, and the rabbis did not punish the owner of the vineyard in the case of another person's malfeasance. However, wherever the non-seed plants of

() and arum () were planted in a vineyard, seeing that their planting in a vineyard stands in direct violation of the Torah itself, such plantings would render the entire vineyard prohibited, requiring its burning.

In animals

The prohibition vis-à-vis animals pertains to their cross-breeding and the prohibition of plowing a field with two different species of animals coupled together, such as with an ox and donkey that are hitched together by a yoke. This prohibition applies also to hitching two kinds of animals together to pull a cart or wagon, and even if it were merely to tie them together behind a wagon. (reprinted from 1922 and 1938 editions of the Hebrew Publishing Co., New York) The prohibition of coupling together diverse kinds of animals applies also to tying together two species of birds. A man and his beast are permitted to plough together. In the classification of animals, the genus ''

Canis ''Canis'' is a genus of the Caninae which includes multiple extant taxon, extant species, such as Wolf, wolves, dogs, coyotes, and golden jackals. Species of this genus are distinguished by their moderate to large size, their massive, well-develo ...

'' includes dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals. Even so, the mating of dogs and wolves is forbidden. The common "village dog" (), said by some commentators to be the saluki, is considered a diverse kind with the fox. Similarly, mating a horse and mule (even though they cannot reproduce) is forbidden.

, ''Kil'ayim'' 1:6 Though a Jew is forbidden to crossbreed a horse and a donkey (producing a

hinny A hinny is a domestic equine hybrid, the offspring of a male horse (a stallion) and a female donkey (a jenny). It is the reciprocal cross to the more common mule, which is the product of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). ...

mule The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey, and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two ...

), had a gentile bred them, it is permitted for a Jew to make use of them.

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * () *, Hil. ''Kil'ayim'' (p. 390) *, s.v. ''Hil. Kil'ayim'' (vol. 4) * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kil'ayim (prohibition) Land of Israel laws in Judaism Negative Mitzvoth Jewish agrarian laws Hebrew words and phrases in the Hebrew Bible Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law