Q&A
Shehecheyanu on pidyon petter chamor
I have had the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon petter chamor for the first time in my life. Should I recite the blessing of shehecheyanu on this mitzvah?
Terumot and Ma'aserot from Jewish Produce in Closed Military Zones
Do we need to separate terumot and ma'aserot from produce found in closed military zones during the War of Iron Sword?
Orlah: The status of fruit tree saplings set on synthetic grass
1) A private individual brought fruit tree saplings from the nursery and left them for a period of time on synthetic grass before planting them in his garden. Does he need to restart the orlah count?
2) We were asked a similar question by a nursery that sells fruit trees to private customers. The owner wanted the nursery to look nice, so he covered the nursery area with synthetic grass. Can the saplings be placed on the synthetic grass?
The question is whether or not synthetic grass is considered a detaching surface (if so, when placing saplings on it, one must recount the orlah years).
Transplanting grafted trees
I have citrus trees in my yard. According to the list on your website, they have a questionable status vis-à-vis kilei ilan. For this reason, grafting and planting should be performed by a non-Jew, but Jews may care for the tree both actively and passively.
1. If a Jew was involved in either grafting or planting the tree (or both)—must the tree be uprooted bedi'avad?
2. Some trees are in planters and we need to plant them in the ground. Is transplanting permitted by a Jew, or is a non-Jew's services needed for this action? That is, is transplanting considered halachically a new planting, requiring a non-Jew, or is it simply moving the tree to a larger area, considered actively sustaining the tree—an action permitted to Jews.
3. In continuation to the previous question: what happens if the transplant is performed in a way that does not necessitate a new orlah count (it is transplanted in a clod of soil large enough to sustain the tree for two weeks; the planted had a large enough hole and was attached to the ground; the planted was detached from the ground for less than 24 hours). In this case, would the transplant be permitted by a Jew, or would a non-Jew need to perform it?
Peasch: Are gluten-free products kosher for Pesach?
Are gluten-free products kosher for Pesach?
Pesach: Matzah for those with celiac
Someone with celiac, who cannot eat regular grains—even oat matzah—can only eat matzah made of gluten-free grain. Can he fulfill the obligation of eating matzah on Seder night with this special matzah?
Pesach: Lecithin and rapeseed on Pesach
In recent years, my family has begun to avoid eating lecithin and rapeseed products on Pesach. I'm not sure what the source of this custom is. I would like to know if these are considered legumes (kitniyut) and on what basis should one not eat them on Pesach.
Volunteering on farms during chol hamo'ed
Since this year, many farmers were hit hard during the war and especially since most of their foreign workers fled, will it be permissible this year to work in agriculture during chol hamo'ed?
Nissan: Birkat Ha'ilanot on trees that blossom twice annually
I have two questions about birkat ha'ilanot:
- Can we make the blessing on trees that blossom twice a year (lemon, mango, petango)? What about those that bloom twice but only produce fruit once a year (mango)?
- Why don't we make this blessing over olive trees?
Nissan: Birkat ha'ilanot vs. Shekacha lo ba'olamo
Whoever sees especially beautiful creations recites the blessing shekacha lo ba'olamo; "Who has such things in His world."
Whoever goes out to fields or gardens in the days of Nissan and sees trees blossoming and budding recites birkat ha'ilanot, the blessing for the trees: "Blessed … who has withheld nothing from His world, and has created in it beautiful creatures and trees for human beings to enjoy.'" What is the difference between both blessings?