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Orlah fruit trees
Question
I currently live in florida and i have a registered organic tree and plant nursery. i am hoping to make aliyah within the next few years and to continue my tree and plant nursery in Israel. i am additionally hoping to sell and plant fruit trees and plants throughout Israel.
my question is this: i have kept orlah in the states simply because the trees i have grown from seed do not fruit until the 7th or 8th year, making fruit within the first five years not an option. just to be sure, i have refrained from eating the fruit from my trees for three years after that, as i felt this was the proper orlah.
However, on your website, (//www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/eng/print.asp?id=4976) it states that a forbidden fruit is counted from the time of the tree’s birth (sprouting) ... and is forbidden from birth until 5 years old. my fruit trees (avocado, mango, etc.grown from seed) did not even fruit until well after the 5 years .... could certain trees fall outside the requirements for orlah simply because they are so late in fruiting (7 - 8 years)?
my son in yeshiva said he thought orlah pertained to the time of the tree’s actual fruiting .... thus making a tree that fruits in year 7 permissible only by year 12 ....
please let me know what is the correct way to determine orlah .... i am hoping to plant fruit trees in Israel and from my experience, many fruit trees (particularly those grown from seed, which only mature after year 7 or 8) would not fall into the category of orlah due to such late fruiting.
thank you for your reply.
rhona corinne friedland
Leaf Mulch Lady Tree and Plant Nursery
http://www.leafmulchlady.com/
Answer
Shalom Rhona,
First of all, I’d like to wish you all the best in your forthcoming
aliya to Israel. As you know, there are many agricultural mitzvot (58
in the Torah) in Israel which, especially in your field of work, will
benefit you greatly!
Please allow me to correct an important misunderstanding found in your
question, apparently based upon the question of a previous writer. The
orla is counted from the time the plant takes root (unless uprooted
without sufficient soil) and not from the time of fruit bearing.
Accordingly, if your trees only bear fruit in the 5th year and on,
there is no prohibition at all, and no need to redeem the fruit (done
outside of Israel only on grapes, and only in the 4th halachic year).
Please tell your son, as well.
With Love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat

Shmita and Charity
Various Rabbis | 9 Cheshvan 5768

Shmita
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 14, 5775

Children planting in Shmitta
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 14, 5775

Laws of Shmitta for private garden
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Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Orlah fruit trees
Adar I 5, 5771

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Adar I 23, 5771

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Birkat Hamazon - extra verses
Adar II 25, 5771

colors in creation & Tanach
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money on Shabbat
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Is Induction Cooktop good for Pessach?
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Nails clipping and pregnancy
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Thank you
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Health Neglect & Cigarette Smoking in Yeshivas
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 19, 5783
