Av 5784 Issue no. 18

Reminder: 15 Av is the deadline – important points to consider

When bare-rooted trees are transplanted in the ground at least one-and-a-half months before Rosh Hashanah, they will be considered completing one orlah year on Rosh Hashanah. This calculation includes one month plus two weeks for the tree to take root. The deadline to gain an extra orlah year is 15 Av. For this reason, many plant fruit trees in their gardens at this time of the year.

In the past, including the trees' nursery years in the orlah count was nearly impossible. Most nurseries leave less than a 2.5 cm diameter at the base of the tree's growing bag, and it was impossible to determine whether the tree sat on a surface detaching it from the ground.

Another important consideration when purchasing fruit trees is the issue of kilei ilan, the prohibition of grafting mixed species. Although the fruit will be kosher regardless of whether the tree is grafted, fruit trees grafted in a prohibited fashion may neither be planted, watered, fertilized, or otherwise sustained.

Torah VeHa'aretz Institute began providing halachic supervision for both orlah and kilayim to interested nurseries to solve both issues. Starting with only one nursery, due to public demand, more and more nurseries have requested supervision. Now, baruch Hashem, there are 15 nurseries around the country with our supervision (for private individuals and wholesale).

For more information on the topic and to see the ever-growing list of our supervised nurseries (now available in English!), visit our website >>

Clip: Rising from the Ruins

Join us on the journey of Torah VeHa'artz Institute from Kfar Darom to Nizan.

https://youtu.be/STa0Oz0aF10

Article: Kfar Darom Past and Present

With the 19th anniversary of the expulsion from Gush Katif coming up, we present you with a brief historical article on the most veteran of the Gush Katif settlements and former home of Torah VeHa'aretz Institute: Kfar Darom >>