Planting Vegetables Near a Grapevine Outside Israel

I have a grapevine growing in my garden (not in Israel). May I plant other vegetables near the grapevine?

The Torah (Devarim 22:9) prohibits planting klei ha’kerem (planting grains or vegetables in the proximity of a vineyard), even though no grafting occurs. Although, the Biblical prohibition applies only to the land of Israel, however Chazal extended this prohibition, in a specific case, outside of Israel as well. This case is detailed in the Rambam (Hilchos Kilayim 8:13) who writes that outside of Israel, the only prohibition is to plant the seeds from two species of grain (or two species of vegetable) together with a grape seed in one hole. In all other scenarios, there is no prohibition. However, Birchei Yosef (Yoreh De’ah 296:5) writes that outside of Israel, although planting vegetables in a vineyard is not prohibited, it is still considered improper.

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.