Hebrew: צַבָּר, tsabar
Family: Cactaceae
Scientific name: Opuntia ficus-indica
The cactus is a branching plant that can grow several meters high. Like many cacti, the prickly pear is a succulent, storing water in its tissues. The plant can accumulate large amounts of water in a short time and use it slowly throughout the dry season. Botanically, the stems are the various segments that make up the plant and resemble leaves. Their function is to carry out the process of photosynthesis and to store water. The cactus’ true leaves are vestigial, falling off quickly, leaving only a few spiny auxiliary leaves. Other thorns develop on the plant as well. The lack of proper leaves helps minimize water evaporation.
Cactus propagation is performed by burying a stem in the ground. Often, even stems that have fallen to the ground and remain lying on it will take root and develop into a new plant. The reddish fruit develop at the tips of the stems. Both the fruit and the fleshy stems can be eaten fresh or cooked. There is a unique variety without thorns, called napolitano, which is specifically grown for its edible stems.
The plant originates in central Mexico, from where it was brought to Europe to the rest of the world. It was introduced to the Land of Israel several centuries ago, acclimatized rapidly, and became common as a hedge and fence plant.
Due to its desert origins, this plant relies on groundwater and does not require irrigation. Its thorns provide protection for fields against the entry of unwanted animals and people.
Tree or vegetable: Due to its unique structure, rabbinic authorities debated the halachic definition of the cactus, whether it should be classified as a tree or a vegetable. One of the main criteria for determining whether a plant is classified as a tree or a vegetable is the sequence of its development. If the plant has a trunk, branches, and leaves, it is considered a tree; however, if the leaves develop directly from the root system, it is considered a vegetable.
In practice, the posekim classify the prickly pear cactus as a tree, and thus it is subject to the laws of orlah and neta revay; so too, the blessing for the prickly pear is borei peri ha’etz, for several reasons: (1) It is a perennial plant that lives for many years. (2) New growth (botanically defined as branches) develops on top of the old growth and does not grow anew from the ground. (3) The fruit develops from branches, and (4) The lower part of the plant becomes woody and hardens.
Living fence: The prickly pear cactus is often grown as a living fence. According to halachah, the orlah prohibition applies only to fruit trees, and not to trees intended for other uses, such as for fencing or decoration. Therefore, if the plant was planted solely for use as a fence, and this purpose is clear from the way it was planted, the laws of orlah do not apply. However, if the purpose of planting includes producing fruit, the tree is subject to the laws of orlah (due to the common practice of planting it for fencing, some posekim maintain that the fruit is insignificant and the appropriate blessing is borei peri ha’adamah or shehakol).
Orlah for edible stems: The stems of the cactus are edible due to their fleshy nature, and some varieties are grown specifically for this purpose. The posekim discuss whether the laws of orlah apply to the stems, since they are not the botanical fruit of the plant. The prevailing halachic ruling is that the laws of orlah do apply to these stems.
A stem that falls to the ground and takes root is considered a new tree, and its orlah years are counted from the time it takes root in the ground.
Shehechiyanu (blessing for new fruit): No. While there are cultivars that produce only during certain seasons, recently cultivars have been developed that produce throughout the year, so shehechiyanu should not be said.
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