Halakha Imamat 19:25: Mishneh Torah, Forbidden Foods & Sefer HaChinukh

Einige der Gaonim haben entschieden, dass man die Früchte des 4ten Jahres, wenn man sie auch eingelöst oder substituiert, doch nicht essen dürfe bis das 5te Jahr begonnen; dieses Gesetz ist aber durch nichts begründet; mir scheint sogar, dass dies eine irrtümliche Entscheidung und Folge der Missdeutung des Verses: »Und am fünften Jahre sollt Ihr seine Frucht essen«, (Lev. 19:25) sei, da der Sinn dieser Worte doch nur der ist, dass man am 5ten Jahre, die Früchte des Weinberges ohne allen Erlös essen dürfe, wie überhaupt alle Gemeinfrüchte, und folglich hat man auf jene Entscheidung keine Rücksicht zu nehmen.

From the laws of the commandment is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Berakhot 35a) that one who wants to redeem the fourth-year plant redeems it like the second tithe, which [can be] redeemed — meaning to say, that he redeems it with money and brings [that] up to Jerusalem. And if he redeems it himself, he adds a fifth. As so is the law with the second tithe, from that which it is written about it (Leviticus 27:31), “And if a man surely redeems his tithes.” But one who redeems the second tithe for others, does not add a fifth. And he does not redeem [the fourth-year plant] until it reaches the season of the tithe; as it is stated about it (Leviticus 19:25), “to increase its produce for yourselves” — and they, may their memory be blessed, expounded (Sifra, Kedoshim, Section 3:10), “Until it becomes produce” — meaning to say that it reaches the season of the tithe, and that is a third of its ripeness. And according to Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Second Tithes and Fourth Year’s Fruit 9:2), may his memory be blessed, we do not redeem it when it is attached [to the tree], like the tithe. But others explain (Rashi on Orlah 5:5) that we redeem it even attached. And it is called money of the Higher Realm, like the tithe. And therefore it cannot be acquired as a gift — unless he gave it when it is still unripe fruit, as the obligation has not yet rested upon it, as we said. And its law in the other things — such as eating, drinking and anointment — is like the tithe. And on the commandment of the second tithe in Parashat Re’eh Anokhi (Sefer HaChinukh 473), we will write more about it at length with God’s help.