Imported And Exported Fruit
זכרון יעקב | May 08, 2025
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Imported And Exported Fruit

זכרון יעקב | June 27, 2025

Fruit grown abroad and imported to Israel is halachically considered fruit from outside of Israel. For this reason, all industrial goods such as jams and juices are permissible to use in Israel, although they include fruit that might possibly be orla, when the raw materials are imported. For this reason, even those who hold that the passionfruit vine is a tree (and therefore orla laws would apply) can drink passionfruit juice in Israel: since the fruit concentrate is imported and it is considered a safek orla, it is permissible.

Orla fruit grown in Israel and exported retains its forbidden status.

When I served as a community rabbi in Warsaw, we saw avocado imported from Israel in the market. I told my wife that I was concerned it was orla, which wasn't marketable in Israel so it was exported abroad. Several months ago I did extensive research on the matter, contacting officials in Israel's chief rabbinate, and it turns out that I was needlessly stringent.

Fruit exported abroad generally goes through big packaging houses, which are under the Chief Rabbinate's close supervision.

Moreover, farmers who want to receive kashrut certification for the fruit they sell in Israel may not export their orla fruit, or their kashrut certification will be rendered void; the rabbinate developed sophisticated and efficient methods to enforce this. Those who export produce abroad are big farmers who also sell to the local kosher market in Israel, so the chance that they would endanger their ability to market their produce locally is very small. Note that with regard to terumot and ma'aserot for exported goods, the situated is different (we'll cover that another time).

In conclusion: not only is it possible, but laudable to buy fruit from Israel and you don't have to worry about orla.

Fruit grown abroad and imported to Israel is halachically considered fruit from outside of Israel. For this reason, all industrial goods such as jams and juices are permissible to use in Israel, although they include fruit that might possibly be orla, when the raw materials are imported. For this reason, even those who hold that the passionfruit vine is a tree (and therefore orla laws would apply) can drink passionfruit juice in Israel: since the fruit concentrate is imported and it is considered a safek orla, it is permissible.

Orla fruit grown in Israel and exported retains its forbidden status.

When I served as a community rabbi in Warsaw, we saw avocado imported from Israel in the market. I told my wife that I was concerned it was orla, which wasn't marketable in Israel so it was exported abroad. Several months ago I did extensive research on the matter, contacting officials in Israel's chief rabbinate, and it turns out that I was needlessly stringent.

Fruit exported abroad generally goes through big packaging houses, which are under the Chief Rabbinate's close supervision.

Moreover, farmers who want to receive kashrut certification for the fruit they sell in Israel may not export their orla fruit, or their kashrut certification will be rendered void; the rabbinate developed sophisticated and efficient methods to enforce this. Those who export produce abroad are big farmers who also sell to the local kosher market in Israel, so the chance that they would endanger their ability to market their produce locally is very small. Note that with regard to terumot and ma'aserot for exported goods, the situated is different (we'll cover that another time).

In conclusion: not only is it possible, but laudable to buy fruit from Israel and you don't have to worry about orla.

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