- Q. As we approach Tu Bishvat and prepare for our party that includes all the fruits that Hashem blessed us with, our large Kiruv and Ba’aley Teshuva group has many questions regarding the eating of olives that are also included.
Is it true that one should avoid eating olives since it causes the forgetting of the learned Torah?
A. On question 2930 we wrote:
“Q. The Gemara says (Horayos 13b) that one of the things that causes one to forget one’s learning is one who is “Rogil” (common) with olives. Since I do not understand the way this works, I do not even know for sure how to formulate the question. Basically, I wish to know the parameters of this statement. A smattering of my doubts involve knowing: Who would forget their learning? Anybody? Perhaps only someone who possessed a lot of learning.
To what we answered: A. On question 452 and 2550 regarding the eating of olives, we wrote: “Talmud (Horayos 13b) teaches that five things cause forgetting the Torah one has learned; one of them is eating olives regularly.
Poiskim differ whether this is an actual prohibition (Divrei Malkiel 4: 1, Hisorerus Teshuvo 367, Lehoros Nossan 1: 59. See Piskey Teshuvos 170: 18) or if it is only good advice and a recommendation (Yabia Omer Y.D. 3: 8 :4, Sefer Hazikaron - Siach Hassode, introd.)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a
Important Numbers
