Av 5785, Issue no. 21
Article: Rooted or not? Halachic correspondence with contemporary posekim on planting trees after 15 Av
Many plantings take place during the end of summer, especially citrus trees. These plantings are always done with an intact clod of soil. Since it is sometimes difficult to complete all plantings by the 15th of Av (Tu B’Av), the question arises: Can the planting deadline be postponed by another two weeks, on the assumption that a tree planted with a clod of soil does not require time to take root?
We presented this question to several of the halachic authorities of our generation. See our correspondence here.
Clip: Radbaz, the eggplant savior
A journey following an ancient dispute: Is the eggplant a vegetable or a tree? What blessing is recited over it? And is it even permitted to eat during its first three years? Don't forget to turn on English subtitles! If you can't see the clip, click here.
QA: Kilei zera'im in hydroponic systems where each plant is in an individual pot
Is distancing necessary in hydroponic systems? Can we grow tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, and lettuce next to each other when they are each nested in removable pots? See the answer here.
Family events at Torah VeHa'aretz Center
Torah VeHa'aretz Institute will be hosting five special family events over the course of the summer
Dates: 3 Av (July 28), 13 Av (August 7), 20 Av (August 14), 25 Av (August 19), 3 Elul (August 27)
Hours: 10 AM to 3 PM; entrance until 1:30 PM
Program includes: Visitors Center | Treasure Hunt through Botanical Garden | Snakes and Ladders | Cahoot! Competition | Movie: Clementino the Detective – Hilarious Educational Movie on Terumot and Ma'aserot | Arts & Crafts from Nature | Kfar Darom over the Generations – Talk and Movie | VR Binoculars ** | Planting Kilayim Workshop**
Admission: NIS 30, 5 and up
**Additional fee
Register here.
New at the Garden of Mitzvot: Layered grapevine
Our Garden of Mitzvot is much more than a beautiful botanical garden featuring organically grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs of many types. Each plot is designed to raise thought-provoking halachic questions. At our plot dedicated to special laws of vineyards, our veteran agronomist, Dr. Mordechai Shomron, layered one branch of the grapevine. This agricultural technique (havrachah in Hebrew) involves bending a branch of a plant and burying part of it in the ground so it can take root and potentially grow into an independent plant. Once rooted, the layered branch can be severed from the mother plant.
Mitzvot
In the garden, as you can see above, the layered branch is still attached to the mother vine, which is currently in its second orlah year. The branch was layered one year ago and now both the mother vine and layered branch are heavy with grapes—though they are forbidden to eat due to their orlah status.
This raises several halachic questions:
Is the layered branch also in its second orlah year?
What would happen if we cut off the branch connecting it to the mother vine – would the orlah count continue, would it start at the time of layering, or from the time it was severed from the mother vine?
What would be the status of the fruit if we sever the branch next year, after the mother vine has completed its third year?
Answers can be found in Chapter 5 of the Laws of Orlah for the Backyard, here.
Independent Family Tours
There will also be independent tours for families at the Visitors' Center and at the Garden of Mitzvot (booklets, movies, and exhibits fully accessible in English).
Dates: Av and Elul (through September 1)
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 10 AM to 3 PM, subject to advanced registration
For more information: 08-6847088