Monday, February 1, 2021

Fwd: Halacha Yomis - Orlah, Smelling Flowers


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From: OU Kosher <noreply@ounetwork.org>
Date: Mon, Feb 1, 2021, 7:01 AM
Subject: Halacha Yomis - Orlah, Smelling Flowers
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>


 

Is it permissible to...

 
OU Kosher
 
The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer
OU Kosher Halacha Yomis
This column is dedicated in memory of:
Rav Chaim Yisroel ben Reb Dov HaLevi Belsky, zt'l
Senior OU Kosher Halachic Consultant from 1987-2016

Q. Is it permissible to smell roses on a bush that was planted in the past 3 years?

A. The Torah (Vayikrah 19:25-26) prohibits eating orlah (fruit that grew on a tree within the first three years after it was planted). The Talmud (Kedushin 56b) extends the prohibition to deriving benefit as well. As such, smelling the pleasant fragrance of orlah-fruit is not permitted. May one smell flowers during the first three years of growth? If a flower grew from the ground there is no issue, as orlah applies only to trees. Furthermore, even flowers that grow on trees or bushes generally do not have orlah status because orlah refers to fruit (see the Biblical verses quoted above), and flowers are not fruit. Nonetheless, the Beis Yosef (in the beginning and end of YD 294) quotes the Rashba who ruled that orlah applies to roses while the Ra'aved disagreed. Why would roses be different than other flowers? It has been suggested that it was common to grind rose petals and add the powder to food in the time and location of the Rashba (thirteenth century Spain). Since roses were used as a spice, they were subject to the halachos of orlah. Nowadays, this is generally not done, and all would agree that one may smell roses even during the first three years of their growth. (See Sefer Piskei Teshuvos 217:8)


Today, February 1, 2021 (י"ט שבט תשפ״א)
is the fifth yahrzheit of Rav Belsky, zt"l.
May today's learning be a zechus l'aliyas nishmaso.

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Dedicated by Gerald and Karin Feldhamer
in memory of their parents
R' Moshe ben R' Elyokim Getzel Feldhamer and Pesha bas Reb Mordechai
R' Avrohom Abba ben R' Chaim Finkelstein and Taube bas R' Yissocher Dov HaKohen
In memory of R' Kalman ben R' Moshe Feldhamer
 


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