Worth The Wait TB Berachot 36

Today daf TB Berachot 36 discusses what is the appropriate blessing concerning a caper tree. Capparis spinosa, the caper bush, also called Flinders rose, is a perennial plant that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers. The plant is best known for the edible flower buds (capers), often used as a seasoning, and the fruit (caper berries), both of which are usually consumed pickled. There is a disagreement about what blessings should be recited since different parts of the tree are eaten at different times of the year. Going off on a tangent, the Gemara discusses the law of orlah concerning the caper bush.

Incidental to this discussion, the Gemara cites an additional halakha concerning the caper-bush. Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: A caper-bush during the first three years of its growth [orla] outside of Eretz Yisrael, when its fruits are prohibited by rabbinic and not Torah law, one throws out the berries, the primary fruit, but eats the buds. The Gemara raises the question: Is that to say that the berries are fruit of the caper, and the bud is not fruit? The Gemara raises a contradiction from what we learned in the mishna cited above: With regard to the parts of the caper-bush [nitzpa], over the leaves and young fronds, one recites: Who creates fruit of the ground, and over the berries, and buds he recites: Who creates fruit of the tree. Obviously, the buds are also considered the fruit of the caper-bush.

According to the Torah we are forbidden to enjoy the fruits of a tree for the first three years of his life (in the Land of Israel). The fruits of the fourth year are taken to Jerusalem and eaten there. Fruits from the fifth year and beyond can be enjoyed anywhere. “When you enter the land and plan any tree for food, you shall regard his food as forbidden. Three years shall be forbidden for you, not to be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit shall be set aside for jubilation before the Lord; and only in the fifth year may use its fruit-that is sealed to you may be increased: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:23-25) I found this wonderful article by Michael Giorarie which teaches that there is a deeper meaning to the laws of orlah besides just enjoying the fruit and thanking God for the blessings he has given us.

“There is an interesting agricultural mitzvah called orlah. The commandment states that when we plant a tree, we are prohibited to eat its fruit for the first three years. Once this time has passed, we are free to enjoy the fruit and thank G-d for the blessings He has given us.

“There is a mystical explanation of the mitzvah that provides an insight into one of the foundations of personal and spiritual growth.

“The very first failing of the very first human beings was the desire for instant gratification. first transgression recorded in the Torah is when Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit. Although this story is famous, what is not so well known is that the fruit of the forbidden tree was not intended to be eternally prohibited. Adam and Eve were created on Friday afternoon. They were instructed not to eat the fruit for only three hours, until Shabbat. Once Friday night had arrived, the fruit would have been theirs to enjoy. They lacked the self-control to delay that pleasure.

“The three years that we wait before eating fruit of any tree is a reminder of the three hours that Adam and Eve did not wait to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.

“The delicacies of the world were given to us to enjoy. But self-control and discipline remind us that there is more to life than just eating delicious fruit. Creating boundaries around our indulgences helps create a focus and consciousness that there is a bigger picture. Enjoying life’s blessings is just a small part of an existence also filled with meaning, values and a higher purpose. Greed, lack of control, the need for instant gratification and hedonism are destructive, and create empty lives and purposeless existence.
“The delicious fruit trees are G-d’s gift to us. But the commandment to wait three years before enjoying them is an even greater gift, the gift of discipline and self-control.” (https://www.chabad.org/…/a…/1196398/jewish/Can-You-Wait.htm…)