Orlah

Your innocent question is actually quite complicated. I’ll try to make this as concise as possible—so bear with me! First the biblical source (Leviticus 19:23–25): When you come to the Land and you plant any food tree, you shall surely block its fruit [fr...

Through following these halachic guidelines, we make our gardens not only physically beautiful but spiritually delightful as well.

In addition to the basic kosher laws (such as the kosher species of meat and fish, and the separation of meat and dairy), there are several other kosher considerations. Here are some of them . . .

The very first failing of the very first human beings was the desire for instant gratification. What is not so well known is that the fruit of the forbidden tree was not intended to be eternally prohibited . . .

The Torah teaches that for the first three years the fruit of a newly planted tree is forbidden to us. The majority of Jews today no longer work in the agriculture, but we are all gardeners at heart

Is it what we do, or why we do it? Do we enter life to play a part in a pre-established cosmic plan, or do we also have a role in defining the significance of our actions?

A mystical interpretation of the laws of orlah (forbidden fruit of the first three years after a fruit tree's planting), netah revai (the sanctified fruit of the 4th year), and the "mundane" fruit of the fruit tree's 5th year.

Then it was haircut time. I squeezed my eyes shut, half expecting the same cries I heard at his bris, which seems like it was just yesterday. But when I looked up, he was grinning.

Can you simply call your struggling business colleague a “success story” and expect him to perform?

It’s not often that a fruit gets so much attention. I can’t remember exactly when and how I heard about it (was it on NPR or Quartz?), but around two years ago I found out about a new apple being developed that was poised to be one of the biggest fruit la...