Q&A

We went for a nature hike and the kids gathered sheaves of wheat. Is it permissible to keep these sheaves for decoration, even during Pesach, or is it considered chametz gamur? What should we do with all the sheaves?

Are we supposed to sell products what include wheat protein or wheat flour (soup mix, for example) with the chametz?

Does one fulfill the obligation of maror grown hydroponically?

Is the mitzvah of taking challah tied to the Land of Israel? Does it apply abroad? Could you also please tell me, in short, what laws and procedures are involved in this mitzvah?

I bought a seed packet that says "decorative pumpkin small fruit – Curcubita pepo small mixed." The picture on the packet shows pumpkins of various colors and sizes. Am I allowed to plant them in my garden, with a 50 cm distance one from another?

I saw on your website your responsum where you permitted soaking Chasalat leaves on Shabbat in soapy water, and said that you don’t have to worry about killing insects. You didn’t relate to the prohibition of borer (like soaking vetch). Is borer an issue here?

Can one say birkat ha’ilanot on trees grafted in a forbidden fashion?

Can I sell products containing wheat protein (like soluble soup mix) together with the chametz?

There is a cherry picking festival taking place in Gush Etzion, and I’d like to go with a few friends. You can pick cherries, blueberries, and raspberries.

1. Is there a problem with orlah (is there supervision by the Gush Etzion rabbinate)?
2. If we pay upfront and it’s “all you can eat,” how can we eat the fruit without first taking terumot and ma’aserot, and at which point do we need to separate them? The same question regarding eating the fruit in the car on the way home.
3. I know there are guidelines about checking fruit for infestation (and that raspberries are very difficult to check). Do you have current information about infestation status?

This seems like such a nice event, and it is difficult for me to believe that in a place like Gush Etzion, where there are so many observant Jews, there would be a festival that would trip people up in eating tevel mide’oriyta. 

Is a drip irrigation pipe considered a barrier when growing different types of vegetables on either side of the drip pipe? When it comes to seed starters do these pose a kila’im problem?