Purim: Bi'ur time for dates!
For fruit from the shiva't haminim with a long shelf-life, Chazal (Pesachim 53. Rambam 7,11) attached the bi'ur time to various holidays:
- Figs - Chanukah
- Dates - Purim;
- Grape products (raisins, grape juice, wine) - Pesach;
- Olives and olive oil - Shavu'ot.
When are dates exempt from bi'ur?
If dates are still hanging on your tree at bi'ur time, they are exempt from bi'ur.
Dates under the auspices of otzar beit din at bi'ur time, are exempt from bi'ur.
If you have a small amount that will last your family for three meals, you do not have to perform bi'ur.
If you have more than a week's worth:
Take the produce outside of your house and declare before three people that your produce is ownerless by saying the following:
אַחֵינוּ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל: כָּל מִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לִטֹּל יָבוֹא וְיִטֹּל
"Brothers of the House of Israel: Anyone who needs to take should come and take"
Leave it outside of your house for a half-an-hour and mark it ownerless.
After this time, you may claim the fruit.
For more on the laws of bi'ur see here.
Check out this clip.
For all bi'ur dates, check out our digital shemitah calendars here.
