Halocho #2411 - Three years of Orla for trees

For 3 years after planting a tree, one may not eat its fruit, nor derive any benefit from the fruit, peels or pits. This is a Torah prohibition and applies to trees planted anywhere on the planet by anybody. 

How to count these 3 years: 

• Trees planted until Tu B'av (15th of the month of Av; 45 days before Rosh Hashana) have their first birthday on Rosh Hashana, and 2 years later turn "three years old". 
• Trees planted less than 45 days before Rosh Hashana need to count three years from their first Rosh Hashana. The laws of Orlo apply to trees grown from shoots or pits, and sometimes to trees that have been replanted. 

A tree that has was cut and its stump is less than 1 Tefach (about 9 cm) high becomes Orlo again. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:1,3,4

כָּל עֵץ מַאֲכָל, בֵּין שֶׁל יִשְֹרָאֵל בֵּין שֶׁל גּוֹי, וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּעָצִיץ שֶׁאֵינוֹ נָקוּב, שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת מִנְּטִעָתוֹ, הַפֵּרוֹת וְהַגַּרְעִינִין וְהַקְּלִפּוֹת, הַכֹּל אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה. וְשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים אֵלּוּ, אֵין מוֹנִים מִיּוֹם לְיוֹם, אֶלָּא אִם נָטַע קֹדֶם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּאָב, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיֵשׁ אַרְבָּעָה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם עַד רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, נֶחְשֶׁבֶת לוֹ הַשָּׁנָה, מִשּׁוּם דְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם הֵמָּה יְמֵי קְלִיטָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם בַּשָׁנָה נֶחְשָׁבִים שָׁנָה, וְשׁוּב מוֹנֶה שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים מִתִּשְׁרֵי. אֲבָל אִם נָטַע מִיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּאָב וְאֵילַךְ, לֹא נֶחְשֶׁבֶת שָׁנָה זֹאת לִכְלוּם, וּמוֹנֶה מִתִּשְׁרֵי שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים.

אֶחָד הַנּוֹטֵעַ גַּרְעִין אוֹ עָנָף אוֹ שֶׁעָקַר אִילָן וּנְטָעוֹ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר, חַיָבִים בָּעָרְלָה. אֲבָל הַמַּרְכִּיב עָנָף בְּאִילָן אַחֵר, וְכֵן הַמַּבְרִיךְ, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁעוֹשֶׁה גּוּמָא בָּאָרֶץ וּמַשְׁפִּיל אֶחָד מֵעַנְפֵי הָאִילָן וּמַטְמִין אֶמְצָעוּתוֹ בָאָרֶץ וְרֹאשׁוֹ יוֹצֵא מִצַּד אַחֵר, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחֲתָכוֹ מִֵעִקַּר הָאִילָן, בְּחוּץ לַאָרֶץ אֵין בּוֹ מְשׁוּם עָרְלָה.

אִילָן שֶׁנִּקְצַץ, אִם נִשְׁאַר גָבוֹהַּ מֵהָאָרֶץ טֶפַח, אֲזַי מַה שֶּׁגָּדַל אַחַר כָּךְ, אֵינוֹ חַיָב בָּעָרְלָה. אֲבָל אִם לֹא נִשְׁאַר טֶפַח, חַיָב בָּעָרְלָה. וּמוֹנִין הַשָּׁנִים מִשְּׁעַת הַקְּצִיצָה. וְאִילָן שֶׁנֶּעֶקַר וְנִשְּׁאַר מִשָּׁרָשָיו מְחֻבָר, אֲפִלּוּ רַק כָּעֳבִי הַמַּחַט שֶׁמּוֹתְחִין בָּהּ הַבֶּגֶד, לְאַחַר אֲרִיגָה, בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁיָכוֹל לִחְיוֹת בְּלִי תוֹסֶפֶת עָפָר וּפָטוּר, וַאֲפִלּוּ הוֹסִיף עָלָיו עָפָר הַרְבֵּה.

- Danny

Monday, 12 Iyar 5784 - 27th day of the Omer

 Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

 מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #1800 - Bless the blossoms

During the month of Nissan, trees start to blossom (in the Northern hemisphere).

The first time a year that one sees edible fruit trees blossoming one says:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם - Blessed are you Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe,

שֶׁלּא חִסַּר בָּעוֹלָמוֹ דָּבָר - for nothing is lacking in His universe,

וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת - and He created in it good creatures and good trees,

לְהַנּוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם- to cause mankind pleasure with them.

Once the flowers have fallen off and the fruit is visible then one can no longer say this Bracha.

One makes this Bracha only once a year.

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 226:1,

- Danny
Wednesday, 2 Nissan 5770

Halocho #1031 - What is Tu B'Shvat all about?

Our Sages have designated the 15th of Shvat - Tu B'Shvat - as the boundary between one year and the next for trees, since (in most years) most of the rain of the winter has already fallen by then.

Any new growth of fruit after this day, is the result of the blessing of the new year.

Tu B'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 blossom after Tu B'Shvat belong to the current year's Trumot & Ma'aser quota.

Since Tachanun is omitted on Tu B'Shvat, therefore on Shabbat we will not say אָב הָרַחֲמִים before Mussaf, nor צִדְקָתְךָ צֶדֶק at Mincha.

The custom is to eat more fruit than usual on Tu B'Shvat.

It is customary to pray for a beautiful Kosher Etrog on Tu B'Shvat.


Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol I, page 346-349, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 139:26. Rosh Hashana Mishna 1:1.

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 13 Shvat 5773

Halocho #886 - Tell me about the Etrog

On Sukkoth there's a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog.

The Etrog is a citron; Citrus Medica.

It is held in one's left hand when shaking the four species, with the stem (where it was cut off the tree) facing downwards.

By nature the Etrog tree is very soft (mine buckled during a light Jerusalem snow storm), therefore it is often grafted onto other trees to make it stronger. An Etrog from a grafted tree cannot be used when shaking the four species.

(Grafted fruit is Kosher to eat, despite the prohibition against grafting trees.)

The Etrog needs to be whole; scratches and dents may invalidate it.

The Etrog should not have dark dots on it, though it may have light scabs that are a result of leaves and thorns brushing against it while it grows. (Etrog trees have thorns that grow to about 2" long.)

The "nose" of the the Etrog - from where it starts getting narrow - should be perfectly clean.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 174:2, Shulchan Aruch 648

Ktiva Vechatima Tova

- Danny
Monday, 13 Elul 5771

Halocho #866 - Three years of Orlo for trees

For 3 years after planting a tree, one may not eat its fruit, nor derive any benefit from the fruit, peels or pits. This is a Torah prohibition and applies to trees planted anywhere on the planet by anybody. 


How to count these 3 years: 


- Trees planted until Tu B'av (tomorrow - 15th of the month of Av; 45 days before Rosh Hashana) have their first birthday on Rosh Hashana, and 2 years later they turn "three years old". 


- Trees planted less than 45 days before Rosh Hashana need to count three years from their first Rosh Hashana. 


The laws of Orlo apply to trees grown from shoots or pits, and sometimes to trees that have been replanted. A tree that was cut and its stump is less than 1 Tefach (about 9 cm - 3.5 inches) high becomes Orlo again. 


One does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Av, nor at Mincha the afternoon before. The bride and groom do not fast on their wedding day if it's on Tu B'Av. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 146:2, 173:1,3,4

- Danny
Sunday, 14 Menachem Av 5771

Halocho #782 - Bless the blossoms

During the month of Nissan trees start to blossom (in the Northern hemisphere).

The first time a year that one sees edible fruit trees blossoming one says:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם - Blessed are you Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe,
שֶׁלּא חִסַּר בָּעוֹלָמוֹ דָּבָר - for nothing is lacking in His universe,
וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבִים   - and He created in it good creatures and good trees,
לְהַנּוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם- to cause mankind pleasure with them.

Once the flowers have fallen off and the fruit is visible then one can no longer say this Brocho.

One makes this Bracha only once a year.

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 226:1,

- Danny
Wednesday, 2 Nissan 5770

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 #730 - Chop down trees?

One is not allowed to chop down fruit bearing trees without a good reason. Besides for the transgression of wasting, doing so is also considered to be dangerous.

If a tree is preventing other trees from growing, then it may be chopped down.

If lots of trees are growing together in a small area, then one may chop down some of them so that the others can flourish.

If one needs the space that the tree is growing on, then it may be chopped down.

If the wood of the tree is more valuable than its fruits, it can be chopped down for the wood.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 33:11

- Danny
Sunday, 18 Shvat 5771

Halocho #725 - Kilayim; Grafting trees

It's a Torah prohibition to graft trees with branches from a different type of tree or plant. One may not own a grafted tree; it needs to be uprooted.

One may graft a tree with a branch of the same type of tree. One may take a branch from a grafted tree and plant it.

One may eat the fruit from grafted trees.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Oruch 174:1-2

- Danny
Sunday, 11 Shvat 5771

Halocho #688 - Items hanging on trees on Shabbat

Picking fruit is forbidden on Shabbat.

On Shabbat one may not even remove items hanging from trees.

If there's a basket hanging on a tree, one may not even remove items from the basket, nor put items into the basket.

If the basket is hanging from a hook that is screwed into the tree, one may not remove the basket (nor hang it up).

However, if the basket is hanging from a hook that is screwed into the tree, one may remove items from the basket, as well as add items into the basket on Shabbat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:60

So, it would seem that if the hammock is tied to hooks that are screwed into the trees - and the trees won't move when swinging on the hammock (as we learnt 2 weeks ago) - it shoud be permissible to use a hammock on Shabbat.

Source: http://www.zomet.org.il/Eng/?CategoryID=160&ArticleID=6381

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 4 Kislev 5771

--> VirtualGeula has a selection of Shabbat-related books <--

Halocho #678 - Trees on Shabbat

Moving objects that are Muktza is not allowed on Shabbat. One may touch Muktza on Shabbat if it will not move.

However, one may not use a tree on Shabbat even if it is solid and will not move; one may not climb on it, nor hang from it.

One may not hang things onto trees on Shabbat, nor remove items hanging on trees.

One may not tie an animal by its leash to a tree on Shabbat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:60

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 20 Marcheshvan 5771

Please daven for the complete recovery of Rivka bat Tirtzel.

Halocho #638 - Tell me about the Etrog

On Sukkoth there's a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog.

The Etrog is a citron; Citrus Medica.

It is held in one's left hand when shaking the four species, with the stem (where it was cut off the tree) facing downwards.

By nature the Etrog tree is very soft (mine buckled during a light Jerusalem snow storm), therefore it is often grafted onto other trees to make it stronger. An Etrog from a grafted tree cannot be used when shaking the four species.

(Grafted fruit is Kosher to eat, despite the prohibition against grafting trees.)

The Etrog needs to be whole; scratches and dents may invalidate it.

The Etrog should not have dark dots on it, though it may have light scabs that are a result of leaves and thorns brushing against it while it grows. (Etrog trees have thorns that grow to about 2" long.)

The "nose" of the the Etrog - from where it starts getting narrow - should be perfectly clean.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 174:2, Shulchan Aruch 648

Ktiva Vechatima Tova

- Danny
Monday, 13 Elul 5770

Halocho #617 - Three years of Orlo for trees

For 3 years after planting a tree, one may not eat its fruit, nor derive any benefit from the fruit, peels or pits. This is a Torah prohibition and applies to trees planted anywhere on the planet by anybody.

How to count these 3 years:

- Trees planted until Tu B'av (tomorrow - 15th of the month of Av; 45 days before Rosh Hashana) have their first birthday on Rosh Hashana, and 2 years later they turn "three years old".

- Trees planted less than 45 days before Rosh Hashana need to count three years from their first Rosh Hashana.

The laws of Orlo apply to trees grown from shoots or pits, and sometimes to trees that have been replanted. A tree that has was cut and its stump is less than 1 Tefach (about 9 cm) high becomes Orlo again.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:1,3,4

One does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Av, nor at Mincha the afternoon before. The bride and groom do not fast on their wedding day if it's on Tu B'Av.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 146:2

- Danny
Sunday, 14 Menachem Av 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery of Pola Bat Chaya Malkah

Halocho #560 - May one eat the fruit from grafted trees?

It's a Torah prohibition to graft trees with branches from a different type of tree or plant.

One may not own a grafted tree; it needs to be uprooted.

However, one may graft a tree with a branch of the same type of tree.

One may take a branch from a grafted tree and plant it.

One may eat the fruit from grafted trees.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 174:1-2

- Danny
Monday, 19 Iyar 5770 - 34th day of the Omer

Halocho #536 - Bless the blossoms

During the month of Nissan trees start to blossom (in the Northern hemisphere).

The first time a year that one sees edible fruit trees blossoming one says:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם - Blessed are you Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe,

שֶׁלֹּא חִסַּר בָּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם - for nothing is lacking in His universe,

וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת  - and He created in it good creatures and good trees,

לְהַנּוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם- to cause mankind pleasure with them.

Once the flowers have fallen off and the fruit is visible then one can no longer say this Brocho.

One makes this Bracha only once a year.

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 226:1,

- Danny
Wednesday, 2 Nissan 5770

Win a $5,000 Scholarship from Answers.com - http://wiki.answers.com/static/scholarship_program.html

Halocho#500 - What happens on Tu B'Shvat?

Our Sages have designated the 15th of Shvat - Tu B'Shvat- as the boundary between one year and another, since most of the rains of the previous year have already fallen.

Any new growth of fruit after this day, is the result of the blessing of the new year.

It is customary to pray for a beautiful Kosher Etrog on Tu B'Shvat

Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol I, page 346-349

- Danny
Monday, 10 Shvat 5770

Halocho #402 - In which hand do we hold the Etrog?

On Sukkoth there's a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog. The Etrog is a citron; Citrus Medica. It is held in ones left hand when shaking the four species, with the stem (where it was cut off the tree) facing downwards. By nature the Etrog tree is very soft (mine buckled during a light Jerusalem snow storm), therefore it is often grafted onto other trees to make it stronger. An Etrog from a grafted tree cannot be used when shaking the four species. (Grafted fruit is Kosher to eat, despite the prohibition against grafting trees.) The Etrog needs to be whole; scratches and dents may invalidate it. The Etrog should not have dark dots on it, though it may have light scabs that are a result of leaves and thorns brushing against it while it grows. (Etrog trees have thorns that grow to about 2" long.) The "nose" of the the Etrog - from where it starts getting narrow - should be perfectly clean. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 174:2, Shulchan Aruch 648 Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you happy year to come - Danny Monday, 11 Elul 5769 Please daven for Rachamim ben Charlotte Jacqueline

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 #299 - Bless the blossoms

Nissan is the time of year when trees start to blossom (in the Northern hemisphere).

The first time a year that one sees edible fruit trees blossoming one says:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם- Blessed are you Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, שֶׁלּא חִסֵּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם - for nothing is lacking in His universe, וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבִים - and He created in it good creatures and good trees, לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם - to cause mankind pleasure with them.

Once the flowers have fallen off and the fruit is visible then one can no longer say this Bracha .

One only makes this Bracha once a year.

It's an ancient custom to provide the needy with money for their Pessach needs, during the early part of Nissan, up and above ones regular charity contributions.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 60:1, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, 226:1, 429:1

- Danny Sunday, 4 Nissan 5769

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

Halocho #266 - What happens on Tu B'Shvat?

Our Sages have designated the 15th of Shvat - Tu B'Shvat- as the boundary between one year and another, since most of the rains of the previous year have already fallen. Any new growth of fruit after this day, is the result of the blessing of the new year. It is also customary to pray for a beautiful Kosher Etrog on Tu B'Shvat Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol I, page 346-349 - Danny Monday, Tu B'Shvat 5769

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