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Can you cut down a fruit free

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Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Kislev 6, 5782
Question
We just moved to a new house and was told we need to remove the tree because the roots can effect our septic tank We look at the tree and see it’s an ornament pear tree Are we aloud to remove this tree? Also there are other trees can we remove those and replace with non fruit trees? Let me know thanks
Answer
ב"ה Shalom First of all, since you did not mention Shemita, my assumption is that you live outside of Eretz Yisrael, therefore I will not touch upon Shemita aspects to your question. In case of the ornament pear tree, since it may cause damage to your septic tank, The Halacha allows the removal of a fruit tree, in a case which it can cause damage. ט"ז יור"ד סי' קט"ז, סעיף ו, שו"ת טוב עין לחיד"א סי' ט, Nonetheless, many Rabbis say that due to symbolic and kabbalistic significance of the tree, it should be removed by selling the tree to a non- Jew with the earth around its roots, or at least it should be removed by a non-Jew. In regard the removal of other fruit trees, without more details of the reasons for wanting to remove them, I don't see justification for there removal. All the best
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