Commentary for Berakhot 72:29

He is then in doubt whether the tree is in its fruit three years. Hence, Rabina declares, Mar would be right in eating the berries as well as the buds.

Consequently only the berries are to be regarded as fruit, and not the buds; and Mar acted accordingly.

I.e. it has no authority. Hence there is no doubt that the caper-bush is subject to 'Orlah.

That even the bud is subject to 'Orlah.

This is the literal rendering of the Hebrew, the grammatical construction of which is peculiar.

The rind, shell, etc.

The caper-bud falls from the bush when ripe; hence it cannot be regarded as a protection so that it should be subject to 'Orlah.

With the fruit to make up the minimum bulk which can contract impurity.

And the blossom bears the same relationship to the pomegranate that the caper-bud does to the berry.

If, then, the pomegranate-blossom is subject to 'Orlah, so should the caper-bud be.

See p. 244 n. 12.

That the protection must be attached to the ripened fruit.

I e. is subject to 'Orlah.

The Halakah is in agreement with the Rabbis; and since the caper-bad corresponds to the grape-bud, it too should not be subject to 'Orlah.

M. adds: b. Ashe.

See p. 74 n. 2.

I.e. other than the vine.

The year of agricultural rest; cf. Exod. xxiii. 11, Lev. xxv. 4.

M.: Ashe.

I.e. mark the same stage of growth. The Boser is the soar grape, the Garua' the grape when the stone inside is formed.

Who differ from R. Jose.

Therefore we cannot argue from one to the other. The remainder of the paragraph reads like a marginal gloss incorporated into the text.

Because it is not regarded as a food.

He has not broken the strict fast enjoined on that day.

Hence pepper is a food.

Between the view of Raba and R. Meir.

I.e. preserved, over which a benediction is required.

M.: Rabina.

To be eaten by Jews although prepared by a Gentile.

Since a benediction is necessary, it must be a food ; how, then, could the Rabbis tell Maremar that it may be chewed on the Day of Atonement?

A mixture of flour, honey and oil beaten into a pulp. It seems to resemble the Arabic Kunafeh, a sweet dish made of wheat-floor fried with clarified butter and honey; cf. Lane, p. 150, T.A. i. p. 477 n. 465.

Without honey added.

See p. 239.