Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Leviticus 19:25 mean about eating fruit in the fifth year?
A: Leviticus 19:25 refers to the laws of 'Orlah,' which prohibit eating fruit from a newly planted tree for its first three years. In the fourth year, the fruit is holy and must be eaten in Jerusalem. In the fifth year, the fruit may be eaten anywhere, and the verse promises that doing so will bring increased produce. Rashi explains that observing this mitzvah brings blessing to future harvests.
Q: Why is the fifth year special for fruit trees according to Leviticus 19:25?
A: The fifth year is significant because it is the first year when the fruit of a tree can be eaten without restrictions (after the first three years of Orlah and the fourth year's holiness). The Torah promises that keeping this commandment will lead to increased produce ('to add for you its yield'), showing that following Hashem's laws brings material and spiritual blessings.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Leviticus 19:25 today?
A: This verse teaches patience and trust in Hashem. Just as we must wait before benefiting from a tree's fruit, we learn that spiritual growth and material success come through following divine commandments. The Rambam (Hilchot Ma'achalot Asurot 10:17) emphasizes that these agricultural laws remind us that the land and its produce belong to Hashem, and we must use them according to His will.
Q: How does Leviticus 19:25 apply to modern agriculture?
A: For Jews living in Israel today, the laws of Orlah (first three years) and Neta Revai (fourth year) still apply to fruit trees. The fifth-year fruit may be eaten normally, and farmers trust that observing these laws brings blessing. Poskim (halachic authorities) provide detailed guidelines for determining a tree's age and status to ensure proper fulfillment of this mitzvah.
Q: Why does Leviticus 19:25 end with 'I am the Lord your God'?
A: The phrase 'I am the Lord your God' reinforces that these agricultural laws are divine commandments, not arbitrary rules. The Sforno explains that this reminds us Hashem controls nature and rewards those who follow His laws. Just as He ensures the tree's growth, He guarantees the spiritual and physical benefits of keeping mitzvot.
Context in the Torah
The verse (Vayikra 19:25) discusses the laws of orlah—the prohibition against eating fruit from a tree during its first three years—and the requirement to sanctify the fruit of the fourth year to Hashem. The fifth year's fruit is permitted for consumption, with the promise that it will yield abundant increase.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Vayikra 19:25) explains that the phrase "לְהוֹסִיף לָכֶם תְּבוּאָתוֹ" ("that it may yield to you its increase") is a divine assurance. By observing the mitzvah of orlah and sanctifying the fourth year's fruit, one merits blessing in the fifth year's harvest. This reflects the principle that mitzvot are not merely restrictive but bring spiritual and material benefit.
Rambam's Perspective
In Hilchot Ma'achalot Asurot (10:17), Rambam emphasizes that the laws of orlah apply both in Eretz Yisrael and outside it, though with differing stringencies. He notes that the fifth year's blessing is a reward for obedience, reinforcing the idea that agricultural laws are tied to faith in Hashem's providence.
Midrashic Insight
The Sifra (Kedoshim 3:8) links this verse to the broader theme of sanctity in agriculture. It teaches that just as the fourth year's fruit is holy (neta revai), the fifth year's bounty is a manifestation of Hashem's kindness, showing that holiness leads to abundance.
Kabbalistic Dimension
The Arizal (cited in Pri Etz Hadar) connects the five years to the sefirot: the first three years represent gevurah (restraint), the fourth year chesed (kindness in sanctification), and the fifth year tiferet (harmony and blessing). This aligns with the verse's conclusion, "אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם", affirming divine unity in both physical and spiritual realms.
Practical Halachah