Hebrew: אֲלוֹוֶרָה – אַלוֹי אֲמִתִּי, aloe verah – alloy amiti
Family: Asphodelaceae
Scientific Name: Aloe vera
Aloe vera (True Aloe) belongs to the Asphodelaceae family and is found primarily in Israel and neighboring regions, often growing wild after escaping cultivation. A defining characteristic of this plant family is its rosette-shaped arrangement of thick, rigid leaves, from which flowering stems emerge. These fleshy leaves are swollen with moisture, containing a gel-like sap that can be extracted and utilized.
Today, aloe vera is commonly used as an ornamental plant and as a key ingredient in the cosmetics industry. It is also used in beverages and dietary supplements.
Aloe vera originates from Africa. It is unclear whether it grew in Israel during the Mishnaic period; if it did, it was likely a wild plant rather than a cultivated one. Its medicinal use began around 300 years ago.
Terumot and ma’aserot (offerings and tithes): Since aloe vera is not cultivated as food but rather for medicinal purposes, it is exempt from tithing obligations.
Kilei ilan (grafting mixed species): Aloe vera is sometimes used to help root shoots: a shoot is inserted into an aloe leaf before planting it in soil, as the leaf provides moisture and protection against fungi. This practice is prohibited under the kilei ilan prohibition.
Kedushat shevi’it (Sabbatical-year sanctity): Aloe vera grown for ornamental purposes does not have kedushat shevi’it, as its primary uses—cosmetics and beverages—are considered secondary and insignificant. However, if the plant is specifically cultivated for either cosmetics or beverages, the laws of kedushat shevi’it apply.
