K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Israeli produce is starting to appear in stores and supermarkets around the world. Instructions on how to separate Terumah and Ma’aser can be found at www.kashrut.com/consumer/vegetables.

The following Israeli produce alert is from the Chicago Rabbinical Council on December 30, 2013.

It has come to our attention that Ted’s on Devon Avenue and other stores in the Chicago area are selling produce from Israel. The latest to arrive from Israel are persimmons (http://twitpic.com/dqkar0) which have a brand name of Galilee but do not always state that they are from Israel.
While it is important to support the Israeli economy by purchasing these products, it is crucial that one take Terumah and Ma’aser. Instructions on the procedure can be found on the cRc website.

The following Israeli produce alert is from the MK on December 30, 2013.

Please be advised that peppers are being sold in stores and these products are grown in Israel. Due to the special halachot which apply to these products, consumers are asked to contact their rabbi as to how these items may be used.

The following Israeli produce alert is from the Kashrus Magazine on December 19, 2013.

Fairway is now carrying Birha Fresh Dates and Delilah Dried Medjoul Dates, both imported from Israel. Neither have any indication that terumah and maaser were separated. The dried dates are sold loose. Discuss this matter with your rabbi.

The following South African Israeli produce alert is from the Beth Din of Johannesburg on September 3, 2013.

Grains, fruits, and vegetables (and their extracts) that grow in the halachic boundaries of Eretz Yisrael are subject to many extra kashrut laws due to the kedusha (holiness) of the land. These include:

• The requirement to separate terumah (the Priestly tithe)
• The requirement to separate the various forms of ma’aser (tithes for the Levites, the poor, and the portion that was to be eaten in Jerusalem in Temple times)
• Shmita (produce of the Sabbatical year)
• A stricter form of Orla (produce of a tree within its first 3 years).

Processed foods from Israel with a reliable hechsher guarantees that all these halachic issues have been taken care of.

Fresh Produce: The Kashrut Department is now aware of the following fruit that are being imported from Eretz Yisrael and require Terumah and Ma'aser to be separated:

• Grapefruit
• Pomegranates