Halachic Guides

Mitzvot relevant to anyone with a garden in Israel

Anyone who has a home garden in Israel has the merit of engaging in many of the mitzvot dependent on the Land of Israel; below are the most common.

Orlah, Chapter 5: Renewal of Trees: Planting, Transplanting, Grafting, Rootsuckers, and Layering

Does the orlah count restart when transplanting trees? For grafted trees, does it begin from the time of the graft or from when the rootstock was planted? On partially uprooted trees, rootsuckers, layered branches, and more.

Procedure for Separating Terumot and Ma’aserot

How exactly do we separate terumot and ma'aserot – the full procedure and the exact text

Terumot and Ma’aserot 101: a Halachic Guide

The 40 basic concepts below relate to all aspects of terumot and ma’aserot. This guide describes the various gifts, when they are given, and more.

Observance of land-dependent mitzvot in communal gardens

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Training & Professional Services Unit. Plant Engineering and Botanical Gardens Unit, Plant Engineering Division In collaboration with the Torah VeHa'aretz Institute

Kilei Ilan (grafting): scion and rootstock combinations for trees and vegetables

Laws of kilei ilan (grafting): permitted and prohibited scion and rootstock combinations for fruit trees, citrus trees, ornamental trees, and vegetables (update: Tevet 5785-January 2025).

Laws of ma'aser sheni

Redeeming ma'aser sheni and handling with the coin in our days is complex and can be daunting. In this article we will explain the main halachic guidelines.

Intermediate plant classification as vegetables or trees

While most plants fall into neat categories as trees or vegetables, some are on the seam and have characteristics of both. This chart classifies such intermediate plants, which has bearing on the laws of orlah, berachot and kila’im. Hilchot Ha'aretz, 133.

Text for separating terumot & ma'aserot with side-by-side translation

This formula for separating terumot and ma'aserot is accompanied by a side-by-side English translation. It is an excerpt from the booklet Mitzvot of the Land in a Nutshell

The practical laws of orlah

Orlah is a biblical prohibition, even today. In this article we will discuss a few of its practical halachot. From The Laws of Orlah for the Backyard, Part II.