Various types of produce are now being sold at supermarkets in the United States, despite their Shmittah status, unbeknownst to kosher buyers across the fruited plain.
For example, the above photo shows rainbow peppers that clear states that they were grown in Israel, yet they’ve been found in several Jewish supermarkets.
These products, and others like them that state “Product of Israel” on the package have the status of Shemittah and should not be purchased. If they have already been purchased, consult your rov.
Consumers should always be careful when buying produce to check the sticker, bag label or original case for the country of origin due to issues of Shmittah, or of terumos and maaseros. Some additional examples of Israeli produce commonly found in the U.S. include tomatoes, citrus fruit, persimmons, pomelos, dates and parsley.
{Matzav.com}
Also: Arugula, Basil, Cilantro, Dill (a, b, c, d), Mint, among still others.
Eating or drinking chalav stam is 1000 times worse than eating some shviyis products. At least that’s what my rebbiem told me.
And the people writing this article checked if there was a shtar mechira שטר מכירה or not?
To the esteemed Matzaver Rebbe Shlita:
I’m not sure what you mean when you say that these products “have the status of Shemittah.”
“Status of Shemittah” is not a halachic category.
Perhaps you mean that they have keddushas shevi’is?
Well, maybe they do, but that would assume that the farmer didn’t sign a shtar mechira.
Do you know that for a fact?
If he did sign one, then the peppers do not have kedushas Shevi’is and are perfectly fine, unless one is of the opinion that the shtar was invalid.
(Do you also assume that all readers hold this way?)
ANd even if they do have keddushas shevi’is, all that means is that special handling is required, not that they are forbidden.
If you instead meant they are forbidden as sefichin, then you are also mistaken, as peppers will not be sefichin until about a month from now.
The point of this article is very clear–produce grown in Israel during shmita must be marked by the Rav Hamachshir as “heter m”chira” or “yivul nochri”. The former is not accepted by most charedi consumers, and in the event payros shvi’is are sent to chutz la’aretz, a rov must be consulted if they are permitted to be eaten. This article well serves its purpose–to inform frum consumers to look out for exported Israeli produce and examine the shmita hechsher.
Why would payros shevi’is not be permitted to be eaten?
Peiros with keddushas shevi’is are assur b’achila?
(We’re not talking about sefichin here; peppers will not have that problem until a month from now.)
Michael and Matzaver Rebbe: Perhaps you mean shamur v’ne’evad as the reason they are assur b’achila?
You’re saying that even where there was a shtar mechira, it’s assumed that Matzav readers would take the halachic position that despite the shtar mechira, these peppers would nevertheless have the status of shamur v’ne’evad?
Or you’re perhaps saying that Matzav readers will all assume there was no shtar at all (why? There’s a chazaka about this?)?
Michael and Matzaver Rebbe: Perhaps you mean shamur v’ne’evad as the reason they are assur b’achila?
You’re saying that even where there was a shtar mechira, it’s assumed that Matzav readers would take the halachic position that despite the shtar mechira, these peppers would nevertheless have the status of shamur v’ne’evad?
Or you’re perhaps saying that Matzav readers will all assume there was no shtar at all (why? There’s a chazaka about this?)?
and I would add, are you also saying that shamur v’ne’evad applies to vegetables? Wouldn’t that only be a problem with fruits — and the only issue with peppers would be sefichin, which is not relevant now anyway?
Best and safest not to buy products from Israel.
best?? theres the other side – parnasa for yidden