Q&A
Kilei zera'im: Are weeds subject to the kilei zera'im prohibition?
I have planting pots on my porch. I want to know if I can plant different seeds in one pot:
Two different vegetable seeds
A vegetable and a flower seed
I also like to plant wild plants which I guess you would call weeds so can different weeds be in the same pot (nettle and chickweed).
Can I plant a weed with a vegetable or a flower in the same pot?
If the weed grows by itself in the same pot with a vegetable or a flower, do I need to pull it up?
I just had a basil seedling come up on its own in a pot with weeds do I need to transplant it?
Separation with lack of intent: Oops! I didn't see those oranges!
I picked oranges from my tree, placed them in a bag, brought them inside and put them on the counter. I emptied the bag (or so I thought!) onto the counter, cut off more than 1%, and proceeded with the berachot and saying the text of separating terumot and ma'aserot.
A few minutes later, I realized that two oranges were still in the bag! I wasn't sure if I need to do the whole process again, since I did intend that the separation was for everything I picked. Granted, the oranges were still in the bag, but the bag was open and it was right next to the other oranges. Later on, I discovered that I had put an orange in my jacket pocket (and it was there with me at the time I separated terumot and ma'aserot.
What I did do was separate a bit from the two oranges (this was before I discovered the third in my pocket), and said the berachah without Hashem's name. Then I realized that it's best to just ask Torah VeHa'aretz Institute. J What do I do now, and does my second separation count?
Options for bad neta revay fruit
With great excitement we recently picked some mandarins (tangerines) from our tree, hoping to taste the fruit at last with the reviis bracha.
Unfortunately, they were very dry and not pleasant at all to taste.
There are many left on the tree.
Is it alright to just let them fall and put them in the trash?
On an agricultural note…do you, by any chance, have a remedy for this problem please?
We have noted that the branches bearing the fruit now have very yellow leaves, whereas the rest of the branches, not bearing fruit, are happily green.
Maaser ani on vegetables
I have a small vegetable patch in my yard. What is the order of the berachot on separating terumot and ma'aserot this year (5785)? Are we supposed to say the first berachah on separating terumot and maaserot and say the text? For the second berachah, are we supposed to substitute "ma'aser ani" for "ma'aser sheni"? Do we need to redeem it onto a coin? What do I do with the part of the vegetable I separated?
Obligation to tithe ownerless fruit
What amount of hefker (ownerless) fruit is obligated in teurmot and ma'aserot miderabanan? If produce in a private garden is declared ownerless, does it have hefker status?
Neta revay and terumot and ma'aserot for blueberry bushes on a balcony
I purchased blueberry seedlings from Kibbutz El Rom, which are now growing on my second-floor balcony in flowerpots. One of the seedlings is from 5781 and is now a fourth-year bush. How can I eat the fruits (I am a member of Otzar Ha’aretz)? How do I redeem them? Do I need to redeem them if I don't bring the fruit inside and eat them on the balcony? What should I do when the blueberries ripen gradually? Should I redeem each time I pick a few blueberries, or can I redeem all the blueberries that will grow this year during the first harvest? Also, when the blueberry bush enters its fifth year, do I need to separate terumot and ma'aserot from individual fruits each time I pick a few blueberries, or should I separate them all at once? Do I need to recite a blessing for the separation?
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?
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?