Halocho #1027 - Fourth year fruit

Orla is the Torah prohibition of eating fruit from trees less than 3 years old. In the 4th year the fruit is called "Neta Reva'i" and needs to be "redeemed" by transferring its status onto a coin, before it can be eaten.

The coin needs to be worth at least a "peruta" (0.025 grams of pure silver; currently a few 2 US pennies.)

One says "I am redeeming the Neta Reva'i into this coin".

The coin is then destroyed and disposed of. Instead of a coin one can use fruit worth a few pennies, which then need to be destroyed.

After redeeming the fruit, the "Neta Reva'i" (4th year fruit) can be eaten, anywhere by anybody.

When in doubt if the tree is less than 4 years old:

In Israel the fruit is forbidden. (This is one of the many reasons that fruit needs Rabbinic Supervision in Israel.)

Outside of Israel the fruit is allowed, as long as you didn’t pick it yourself. This is the way Moshe was given the Halacha at Har Sinai.

Sources: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:2, Mishna Orlo, 3:9

- Danny
Wednesday, 5 Shvat 5773