The Stem of the Pitom
This question and answer were automatically translated using our trained AI and have not yet been reviewed by a qualified rabbi. Please treat this translation with caution.
go to original →
Question
Is the stem of the pitom on an etrog considered part of the upper third of the etrog concerning 'black' and 'brown' spots, or if the entire third is clean and the stem is slightly affected, is it acceptable? And what is the source for this?
Answer
Hello,
In the rulings of the poskim, it is explained that the 'dad', the upright part of the pitom, is not considered part of the upper third. It does not have a defect of lacking or change of appearance.
However, some differentiate between a 'woody pitom', meaning a branch made of wood, which is not considered defective, and a 'fleshy pitom', made of the same material as the flesh of the etrog, which is considered defective like the flesh of the etrog itself.
Source
In Kaf HaChaim, Siman תרמח, section קמ"ו, a distinction is made between them, but in the book 'Kashrut Arbaat HaMinim' (Studies 3), it is written that in 'Kapot Tamarim' (35b), it is stated that the discussion of the Gemara and the Rishonim concerns the pitom that is common among us and has the color of the etrog itself, and in any case, it is only considered from the perspective of 'the pitom was removed', which according to some Rishonim is kosher, and not from the perspective of lacking.
There is also testimony from several elders from various countries who have not seen a pitom with the color of real wood, but all are similar to our pitoms.
See also in 'Chaim U'Bracha' (Siman רנט) where it is brought in the name of the Maharshal and Rav Chaim Soloveitchik that black appearance on the pitom is acceptable, and it is difficult to say that in these few years the nature has changed. See also in 'Halachot Lulav' by Ramban, where he explicitly writes that the pitom becomes impure and joins the measure of impurity since it is edible like the etrog, implying that it is not hard wood. The same is in 'Meiri' (Sukkah 34b) 'that the nose emerges from the point of its sharpness, and the shoshan stands on the top of the nose, and that nose is of the etrog species and fit for eating', and in any case, it is not considered defective except in the case of 'the pitom was removed', and not if anything is missing from it.