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Q&A

Paper napkins that absorbed drops of fruit kedushat shevi'it

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

I purchased a peach that is otzar beit din, shemitah produce. It is very juicy, if I wipe the drops with a paper napkin/towel, how do I treat the paper napkin that absorbed the juice drops?

Could Israeli alovera and green tea body lotion pose a shemitah issue?

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

I live in the United States. I bought an Israeli brand body lotion Nakeh7. I noticed that some of the ingredients are herbs: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract. Could any of these ingredients pose a halachic problem in terms of shemitah laws or other land-dependent mitzvot? Note that there is a kashrut symbol on the product, but I'm not familiar with its rulings regarding shemitah and land-related mitzvot for soap production.

Kedushat shevi'it banana muffins on the plane

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

I am about to fly abroad and want to know if I can pack some banana muffins baked with kedushat shevi'it bananas.

Gathering purslane seeds to sow next (8th) year

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Purslane grew underneath the stairs of the synagogue, right in the seam between the sidewalk and the bottom stair (see picture).

I want to pick the seeds, keep them, and plant them after shemitah outside of my house. Is this permissible?

If so, do I have to just take the seeds and not touch the plant, or am I allowed to cut the plant above ground level? May I uproot it?

Harvest by a Jew in a heter mechirah field for agricultural experimentation

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

I am a scientist at an agricultural research institute which performed heter mechirah. I would like to harvest samples of wheat planted during the shemitah year in the field sold through heter mechirah. Is it permissible for a Jew to harvest in this way, since it is not the regular method of harvest and in addition I do not intend to eat the wheat kernels?

Carrots and Dorot Products during Shemitah

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

 The brand Dorot Farm is sold in the United States. What is the status of the carrots in terms of shemitah?

 

Buying orchids from a nursery during shemitah

Rabbi Moshe Bloom, in consultation with agron. Dr. Motty Shomron

I am considering visiting an orchid boutique nursery - it's called Sharon Orchids, in Rishpon, HaPrachim 31. Am I permitted to buy an orchid plant in view of shemitah?

Is it permissible to burn chametz that contains shemitah produce?

Rabbi Moshe Bloom, Nissan 5782

Is it permissible to burn chametz that contains shemitah produce, such as banana bread?

Repaying neighbors with shemitah produce

Rabbi Itzhak Dvir

Before Shabbat I saw I was short on carrots, so I borrowed a few from my next-door neighbor. I just restocked with otzar beit din carrots. Can I "repay" my neighbor with these carrots that have kedushat shevi'it, or is it like repaying a debt with kedushat shevi'it produce?

Uprooting kila'im during Shemitah

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Do I need to uproot Kila'im in my garden during the shemitah year?