September 2023

פיטום, pitom, the stem of an Etrog: A citrus used during Sukkot that can only be kosher and used for it's ritual purpose during the holiday if it's pitom has remained undamaged. 

Additionally, In order for an Etrog to be kosher, it must be not be grafted to another foreign body of a fruit. פיטום, pitom, in Hebrew can also mean the nipple of a man.

The pitom, פיטום reattached to the Etrog like a graft. The stitches produce a faint citrus smell, along with the careful stitching making the experience meditative.

The etrog cannot be kosher if it has received the graft of a foreign body, based on the prohibition of Kil'ayim, which proscribes the mixing of certain seeds and natural materials. What about it's own body received as a graft? Is it enhanced? Is it still pure?