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Terumot & Ma’aserot

Terumot and ma'aserot from wine grapes grown in the Mitzpe Ramon area

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay | Tevet 5786

According to several halachic authorities (including Derech Emunah), Mitzpe Ramon lies outside the borders of the Land of Israel. If the gemar melachah (final stage of processing) is performed in an area that is unquestionably within the Land of Israel, are the grapes obligated in terumot and ma‘aserot?

Grafted Jamaican cherry tree

Dr. Mordechai Shomron, agronomist | Tevet 5786

I would like to plant a Jamaican cherry tree (גרגר פנמה in Hebrew). I was told that the tree might be grafted. Could this present an issue of forbidden grafts? From what I understand, the tree is sold at Marmelstein Nursery, which I saw on your list of supervised nurseries.

Status of untithed flour

Rabbi Ehud Ahituv | 15 Tevet 5786

Rabbi, I would like to know how to proceed if one of the five grains was ground into flour before terumot and ma’aserot were separated from the grain. Is the flour still obligated in terumot and ma’aserot, or is the mitzvah no longer applicable? According to Rabbi Nachman, the blessing on flour is shehakol because its form has changed and it is no longer considered produce. Thank you.

Terumot and ma’aserot when picking a few fruits at a time

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay

I have a tangerine tree in my backyard for seven years now. This year the tree yielded a lot of fruit, B”H. Do I have to take ma’aser each time I pick a certain amount of tangerines?

Bringing fruit into the house through the window

Rabbi Yoel Friedemann

Fruit brought into the house through the window is not subject to the obligation of separating terumah and ma’aser. I live in a private house, though, and the fruit first goes into my yard and only after that is brought through the window. Is the fruit still exempt from terumah and ma’aser in this case, too?

Terumot and ma’aserot from seeds

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay

I grow several vegetables in my garden such as string beans, peas, and potatoes. Sometimes I take all or some of the seeds to plant the next round of crops in my garden.

1) Am I supposed to take ma’aser from the seeds before planting, or does ma’aser only apply to edible produce?

2) If there is an obligation of taking ma’aser at this point, do I need to take ma’aser from seeds I buy at a nursery?

 

Ma’aserot from garden-grown mint

Dr. Mordechai Shomron, Agronomist

Do I need to take ma’aserot from the mint growing in my garden that I use to make tea?

 

Terumot & ma’aserot from herbs grown in planters

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay

Which poskim are lenient about eating herbs grown in planters without first taking terumot and ma’aserot?

 

Separating terumot and ma’aserot from a tree in a shared courtyard

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay

There is a guava tree in my apartment building’s shared courtyard (with 15 families). Every week I pick two to four fruits and take them home. Am I supposed to take terumot and ma’aserot from the guava with a blessing? If the tree was in a public playground, would its fruit also be subject to terumot and ma’aserot?

 

Separating terumot and ma’aserot from herbs in advance

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay

I grow herbs (thyme, rosemary, basil, etc.) and use them as seasoning. We actually eat them; they don’t only provide a flavor. How am I supposed to go about taking terumot and ma’aserot from them? Each time I pick a small bunch of leaves, so I would set aside less than a leaf? For example: how much am I supposed to take from the 2-3 basil leaves that I add to the spaghetti sauce?