Now is a good time to do a Mitzvah
- Prohibition
191
Do not destroy any fruit bearing tree when setting siege
“When you besiege a city … do not destroy the trees” Devarim 20:19
This means not only at a siege but whenever a person destructively cuts down a fruit tree he is liable for lashes.
If anyone breaks a useful object, tears a garment, demolishes a structure- he should receive lashes for disobedience.
A non- fruit bearing tree may be cut down even if there is no need for it.
Also a fruit bearing tree that has aged and produce no fruit except for a small quantity that is not worth troubling over.
This is less than a quarter of a kav/305ml of olives or a kav 1.2 litres of dates.
It is permissible to cut down a fruit tree if it has been harming other trees or causes damage to other fields or if its price is high as the Torah only prohibited an act of destruction.
This applies in all places at all times for men and women.
