Terumot and ma'aserot from wine grapes grown in the Mitzpe Ramon area
Question
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?
Answer
When the gemar melachah of wine or oil is performed in the Land of Israel, terumot and ma‘aserot should be separated with a blessing.
Moreover, there are authorities who maintain that the southern border of the Land of Israel runs south of Mitzpe Ramon (Rabbi Tichożinsky, z"l), which would obligate grapes grown in Mitzpe Ramon in terumot and ma‘aserot just as produce grown within the Land of Israel proper.
In addition, Tosafot (Chullin 6b) note a special status for cities adjacent to the borders of the Land of Israel, in which terumot and ma‘aserot are separated. Furthermore, there is room to consider the modern conquest and control of the area by the IDF as constituting a form of kibbush rabbim—a national conquest undertaken on behalf of the entire Jewish people—even though we currently lack a king and the urim ve-tumim.
For all of these reasons, terumot and ma‘aserot should be separated with a blessing.