Dear Rav,
I am in chutz lal’aretz. May I use my otzar beis din Esrog with kedushas shvi’is for the following purposes:
1) Making Jam
2) Making Esrog liquor
3) Studding with cloves to use as besamim
Or are any of these procedures considered destroying / using shmitta produce for an unusual use?
Furthermore, would the halachos of bi’ur apply to any/all of the above if I keep the jam/liquor/besamim until zman biur?
If so, when is zman biur for esrogim this year and what are the correct procedure of bi’ur?
Thank you
Answer:
Making jam and liquor is permitted, these are normal uses for an esrog, which benefit from the esrog in it’s normal way.
Studding with cloves is questionable. While it is somewhat commonly done, it is not clearly a normal use of the esrog. Furthermore it is not clear that real benefit is gained from the esrog itself through this process as the esrog loses it’s smell quite quickly. This usage should be avoided.
All of the above would be subject to the rules of biur. The zman for biur is sometime between Rosh Chodesh Shvat and Rosh Chodesh Adar I. Before Rosh Chodesh Shvat, the fruit/product should be put down outside of your property and disowned in front of 3 people, giving them the opportunity to take it. Then you may take it back in to your home, and have in mind not to acquire possession of it until after Rosh CHodesh Adar I.
