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

Halocho #993 - No fresh fruit on Shabbat

Fruit that was picked on Shabbat may not be eaten on that Shabbat - even if a non-Jew picked it for himself.

Even fruit that is lying under a tree is forbidden, since it may have fallen off on Shabbat.

Such fruit is Muktza and may not even be moved, until after Shabbat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:9

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 15 Kislev 5773

Halocho #869 - How do I know if fruit is Kosher?

Fresh fruit is always Kosher, however it may have an Orlo problem, as per yesterday and Sunday's Halocho. 


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


- In Israel the fruit from such a tree is forbidden. (This is one of the reasons that fruit needs Rabbinic Supervision in Israel. Other issues include Shmita, "Neta Revo'i"  and the separation of Terumot and Ma'asrot.) 


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

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

- Danny
Wednesday, 17 Menachem Av 5771

Halocho #868 - What comes after Orlo?

Orlo - ערלה - is the Torah prohibition of eating fruit from tress less than 3 years old, as per Sunday's Halocho. 


In the 4th year the fruit is called "Neta Revo'i"  - נטע רבעי - and needs to be "redeemed" by transferring its status onto a coin. The coin needs to be worth at least a "Peruta" (0.025 grams of pure silver; about 3¼ US pennies at today's rate.) 


One says "I am redeeming the Neta Revo'i into this coin". The coin is then destroyed and disposed of. Instead of a coin one can use fruit worth about 4 pennies, which then needs to be destroyed. 


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

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

- Danny
Tuesday, 16 Menachem Av 5771

Halocho #735 - What Bracha to make on fruit pits?

If one eats fruit pits that are bitter and inedible, one does not make a Bracha when eating them.

If one improved bitter pits by roasting them (or otherwise), one says the Bracha of "Shehakol".

If one eats fruit pits that are naturally edible, one says the Bracha of "HaAdama".

If one eats the pits while eating the fruit , then they are included in the Bracha of HaEtz that one made on the fruit.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 52:10

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Shvat 5771

Halocho #732 - Bracha after eating grapes

After eating grapes, dates, pomegranates, olives and figs one says the "short 1-in-3 Birkat HaMazon" (often referred to as "Al HaMichya") with the עַל הָעֵץ ועַל פּרִי הָעֵץ  - "on the trees and the fruit of the trees" option.

If one ate grapes and mistakenly used the עַל הַגֶּפֶן ועַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן -  "on the vine and the fruit of the vine" option, one does not need to correct it, since grapes are also the "fruit of the vine."

On all other fruit, the after-Bracha is "Boreh Nefashot".

Fruit eaten during a meal are covered by the Birkat HaMazon.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 56:1

- Danny
Tuesday, 20 Shvat 5771

Halocho #726 - Blessing before eating fruits

The blessing "Ho'Etz" is only made on fruit that grows on trees which retain their branches in winter and then leaves grow again from these branches. Otherwise a "Ho'Adomo" is made on the fruit.

These blessings are only said if the fruit (or vegetable) is normally eaten raw. If the fruit is normally eaten cooked then on the raw fruit one says "Shehakol".

On fruit pits that are sweet one says "Shehakol"; if they are bitter one doesn’t make any blessing on them.

Fruit eaten during a meal as desert does require a blessing.

If the entire meal is a "fruit meal" then the HaMotzi blessing covers the fruit too.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 52:1, 4, 10, 43:3-4

- Danny
Monday, 12 Shvat 5771

Halocho #645 - Does one say Shehechiyanu on candle-lighting?

The blessing of Shehechiyanu; - "... who has kept us alive, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion" - is recited during Kiddush on all nights of Yom Tov, except on the last days of Pessach. There are two Minhagim (customs) regarding Shehechiyanu at candle-lighting on Yom Tov candles:

- Some women have the Minhag of saying Shehechiyanu when lighting Yom-Tov candles (except on the last days of Pessach)

- Others never say Shehechiyanu at candle-lighting

If a woman makes her own Kiddush she must be careful to only say Shehechiyanu once; either at candle-lighting or during Kiddush.

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah there's a Halachic debate if Shehechiyanu is required. To be on the safe side, one should wear a new item of clothing, or see a new fruit (that one hasn't tasted yet this season) while saying Shehechiyanu on the second night of Rosh Hashanah; both during Kiddush and during candle lighting (if applicable).

If one does not have a new item of clothing, nor a new fruit, on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, one still says Shehechiyanu.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:4, 129:23

K'tiva V'chatima Tova; wishing you a year full of happy tidings

- Danny
Thursday, 23 Elul 5770

Halocho #620 - How do I know if fruit is Kosher?

Fresh fruit is always Kosher, however it may have an Orlo problem, as per yesterday and Sunday's Halocho.

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

- In Israel the fruit from such a tree is forbidden. (This is one of the reasons that fruit needs Rabbinic Supervision in Israel. Other issues include Shmita, "Neta Revo'i"  and the separation of Terumot and Ma'asrot.)

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

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

- Danny
Wednesday, 17 Menachem Av 5770

Halocho#502 - Tu B'Shvat is on Shabbat

This year Tu B'Shvat will be on Shabbat.

Tu B'Shvat - the 15th of the month of Shvat - is the New Year as far as tithing fruits is concerned.

Fruit from trees that blossomed before Tu B'Shvat belong to the previous year's Trumot & Ma'aser quota.

Fruit from trees that blossomed after Tu B'Shvat belong to the current year's Trumot & Ma'aser quota.

Since we do not say Tachanun on Tu B'Shvat, we will not say צדקתך צדק on Shabbat at Mincha.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 139:26. Rosh Hashana Mishna 1:1.

- Danny
Wednesday, 12 Shvat 5770

Halocho# 501 - Which Bracha comes first?

Shabbat will be Tu B'Shvat and customarily lots of fruit will be served.

Which fruit should you choose as the one to hold and make the Bracha on?

- If one has a favorite fruit and it's being offered, it should be used to make the Bracha on.

- If one has no preference then one of the "7 species" has preference.

- If there are none of the 7 species, then one should pick a whole fruit, as opposed to a cut one.

- A Boreh Pri Ha'Etz has precedence over Boreh Pri Ha'Adama (e.g. strawberries and bananas)

The 7 species are (in order of Bracha-precedence): Bread from wheat, cakes from wheat, Wine, Olives, Barley (baked or cooked), Dates, Grapes (in solid form), Figs, Pomegranates

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 55:1 - 3

- Danny
Tuesday, 11 Shvat 5770

Halocho #362 - 4 shopping days left

It's customary not to say the Bracha of שהחיינו - Shehechiyanu during the 3 weeks from 17 Tammuz until after 9 Av.

Therefore one should not buy nor wear new clothes during that period.

Since the "3 weeks" begin on this coming Thursday, one should finish ones shopping in the coming days and wear all new clothes [at least for a short time] before Thursday.

When eating a fruit for the first time in a season one says the Bracha of שהחיינו - Shehechiyanu. If possible, one should not wait for the "3 weeks" to eat those fruit for the first time.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:2

- Danny Sunday, 13 Tamuz 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Elinor Sara bat Rivka who was in a terrible car accident

Halocho #341 - Fresh fruit juice on Shabbat

It's forbidden to squeeze fruit on Shabbat, in order to use the juice.

Therefore one may not squeeze lemons into water to make lemonade.

One may not squeeze out grapes to make grape juice.

There are opinions that even sucking out the juice from the fruit is forbidden.

If one has no use for the juice, then there is no prohibition squeezing it out. Therefore one may squeeze out cucumbers - and pickles - if the juice will be thrown out.

One may squeeze out the juice from fruit into solids. For example, one could squeeze out lemons into a salad.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:12, Shulchan Aruch 120:4

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny Thursday, 12 Sivan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #326 - No fresh fruit on Shabbat

Fruit that was picked on Shabbat may not be eaten on that Shabbat - even if a non-Jew picked it for himself.

Even fruit that is lying under a tree is forbidden, since it may have fallen off on Shabbat.

Such fruit is Muktza and may not even be moved, until after Shabbat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:9

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny Thursday, 20 Iyar 5769, 35th day of the Omer

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #263 - Which Bracha comes first?

Monday will be Tu B'Shvat and customarily lots of fruit will be served.

Which fruit should you choose as the one to hold and make the Bracha on?

- If one has a favorite fruit and it's being offered, it should be used to make the Bracha on. - If one has no preference then one of the "7 species" has preference. - If there are none of the 7 species, then one should pick a whole fruit, as opposed to a cut one. - A Boreh Pri Ha'Etz has precedence over Boreh Pri Ha'Adama (e.g. strawberries and bananas)

The 7 species are (in order of Bracha-precedence): Bread from wheat, cakes from wheat, Wine, Olives, Barley (baked or cooked), Dates, Grapes (in solid form), Figs, Pomegranates

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 55:1 - 3

- Danny Wednesday,10 Shvat 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #249 - Noshing on Shabbat

One should try say 100 Brachot daily. On a regular weekday this happens if one prays all 3 prayers and says ones blessing over food.

On Shabbat the shorter Amida means one is missing 29 Brachot.

One way to complete the quota is to eat fruit and treats between meals, and smell spices.

One also fulfills Oneg Shabbat - enjoying Shabbat - this way.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:22

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny

 Thursday, 19 Tevet 5769

Please daven for a Refua Shleimah for Edis Malka bat Chaya Zelda

Halocho #224 - The Shalom Zachor

Today - 14 Kislev - 3,575 years ago the first of the 12 tribes was born. Reuven was born in the year 2,194 and lived for 144 (or 145) years. It's customary to serve fruit and drinks on the Friday night before a baby's Brit Mila. This is called a Shalom Zachor and is considered a Se'udat Mitzva. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:8 Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 14 Kislev 5769 Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #168 - Glad to be around; Shehechiyanu

The blessing of Shehechiyanu; - "... who has kept us alive, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion" - is recited during Kiddush on all nights of Yom Tov, except on the last days of Pessach.

There are two Minhagim (customs) regarding Shehechiyanu at candle-lighting on Yom Tov candles:

- Some women have the Minhag of saying Shehechiyanu when lighting Yom-Tov candles (except on the last days of Pessach)

- Others never say Shehechiyanu at candle-lighting

If a woman makes her own Kiddush she must be careful to only say Shehechiyanu once; either at candle-lighting or during Kiddush.

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah there's a Halachic debate if Shehechiyanu is required. To be on the safe side, one should wear a new item of clothing, or see a new fruit (that one hasn't tasted yet this season) while saying Shehechiyanu on the second night of Rosh Hashanah; both during Kiddush and during candle lighting (if applicable).

If one does not have a new item of clothing, nor a new fruit, on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, one still says Shehechiyanu.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:4, 129:23

See Halocho #109 - http://halocho.blogspot.com/2008/06/halocho-109-what-bracha-does-one-make.html for other uses of the Bracha of Shehechiyanu.

K'tiva V'chatima Tova; wishing you a year full of happy tidings

- Danny Wednesday, 10 Elul 5768

Please daven that Dalia Rivka Bat Tamar should find her Shidduch soon

Halocho #121 - 5 shopping days left

It's customary not to say the Bracha of שהחיינו - Shehechiyanu during the 3 weeks from 17 Tammuz until 9 Av. Therefore one should not buy nor wear new clothes during that period. Since the 3 weeks begin on this coming Sunday, one should finish ones shopping this week and wear all new clothes [at least for a short time]. When eating a fruit for the first time in a season one says the Bracha of שהחיינו - Shehechiyanu. One should not wait for the "3 weeks" to eat those fruit for the first time. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:2 - Danny Monday, 11 Tamuz 5768

Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה - who is undergoing chemotherapy

Halocho #95 - Meals on Shabbos Erev Pessach

• One may not eat Matza on Erev Pessach.
• One may not eat bread after mid-morning on Erev Pessach.
• One should eat a Kezayis (olive's worth) of bread at all 3 Shabbos meals.

How does one reconcile the above? When Erev Pessach is on Shabbos - like this year, there are special considerations regarding the Shabbos meals. One may not cook Chometz food that sticks to the pot since one will not be able to clean the pots (because it's Shabbos) and one cannot leave them dirty (since one cannot own Chometz on Pessach). Shabbos Morning Services need to start early so that afterwards there will be enough time to eat Chometz, which becomes forbidden by a third of the day. Check your local luach (Jewish Calendar) for the correct time. Since one should eat bread at all 3 Shabbos meals - yet in the afternoon one cannot eat bread - it's proper to divide the morning meal into two. After making Kiddush and Motzi and eating something one should say Grace after Meals and then go for a short walk, then make Motzi again to fulfill eating the third Shabbos meal. One needs to stop eating bread by a third of the day, after which one destroy all remainder Chometz (e.g. by flushing it down the toilet) and says Kol Chamiro annulling all Chometz still in one's possession. One can then continue eating the meal. Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:16, 115:3-4 There are opinions that one should eat the third Shabbos meal as usual, in the afternoon, using fruit, meat and fish. If one eats before mid-afternoon (before the halachic "10th hour" of the day) one can also eat food made from cooked Matza, like kneidelach. One may not eat baked food made from Matza on Erev Pessach. Those who have the custom of eating Matza Ashira ("Egg Matza") on Pessach can use them for Motzi for the 3rd meal, before mid-afternoon. Ashkenazim usually do not eat Egg Matza on Pessach. Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 444:1 The Chofetz Chaim suggests that one do both: Divide the morning meal into two, as well as eating fruit, meat and fish (and kneidelach) in the afternoon. However one should be careful not to eat too much and spoil ones appetite for the evening festive meal. Source: Mishna Brura (8) ibid. If one doesn't want to eat Chometz inside, one can make Kiddush and Motzi and eat a Kezayis (olive's worth) of bread outside, and then eat the rest of the meal inside, as long as everyone is aware of the arrangement before starting Kiddush. If possible, one should see the dining room from where one makes Kiddush. Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 178:2, 273:1 - Danny 9 Nissan 5768