Shop עברית

Q&A

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Grating a lemon with kedushat shevi'it

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay

Is it a problem to grate the rind of a lemon with kedushat shevi'it in order to add it to a cake (instead of discarding it in the pach shevi'it)?

Playing gogoi'm with kedushat shevi'it apricot pits

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

My son wants us to save our apricot pits for him to play gogo'im at recess. We buy otzar beit din apricots. Now I know that barely any fruit gets stuck to the pit, but technically if you open up the pit, the inside is edible.

Is it permissible to play with the pits or is this considered degrading or hefsed? And, in general, are we supposed to keep these pits in the shemitah bin or can we throw them away regularly?

Kilei zera'im: Mint spreading in the garden

Rabbi Dr. Yoel Friedemann

I initially planted mint in my garden 50 cm away from my tomato plant. Later on, the mint spread towards the tomatoes. Is it necessary to cordon off the mint and uproot some of it?

Kilei zera'im: Mint and purslane

I've discovered purslane and mint growing voluntarily throughout my raised bed vegetable garden, often in close proximity to other vegetables. I had thought the purslane was a weed and ignored it but I've since learned it is very healthy and would like to consume it. Do the mint and purslane require special spacing from other vegetables to avoid an issue of kilayim?

Are fruit on trees in public parks obligated in terumot and ma'aserot?

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Are the fruit trees in public parks hefker and does it matter how much you take and what you plan on doing with it? For instance, large-scale olive harvest.

Terumot and ma'aserot from Jewish produce in closed military zones

Rabbi David Eigner, Shevat 5784, Annual Conference of Torah VeHa'aretz Institute at Sederot

Do we need to separate terumot and ma'aserot from produce found in closed military zones during the War of Iron Sword?

Picking and picking up pomegranates in a public area

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

I have a strange question… we were at a public park that had tons of pomegranate trees in RBS. They were big so there is no doubt in my mind that they are old enough… is it halachically allowed to take pomegranates from a public park if they’ve already fallen to the ground? 

Picking herbs on the roadside

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Am I allowed to take cuttings from overgrown wild sage or rosemary at the side of the road in public areas? A few people I know have said that you’re allowed because they grow back and it’s actually good for the trees to take cuttings… but is there an issue of stealing? What about terumot and ma'aserot?

 

Picking herbs growing on the roadside

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Am I allowed to take cuttings from overgrown wild sage or rosemary at the side of the road in public areas? A few people I know have said that you’re allowed because they grow back and it’s actually good for the trees to take cuttings… but is there an issue of stealing? What about terumot and ma'aserot?

I didn't realize my celery was obligated in terumot & ma'aserot - what now?

Rabbi Netanel Oyerbach | Av 5785

I recently planted celery in my garden and used the leaves for soup. Since we don't actually eat the leaves, I thought it was exempt from terumot and ma'aserot since it only imparts flavor. Following the conversation I just had with you about celery, you said since most people do eat celery, it is obligated in terumot and ma'aserot with a berachah, I'm wondering what to do now.

I know it's a ma'aser ani year, and the gifts to both the Levi and the poor are monetary obligations. We finished the soup. Can I give now the monetary value of the ma'aserot to a Levi and poor?