Levítico 19:25 Midrash: Midrash Tanchuma Buber

(Lev. 19:23:) < WHEN YOU COME INTO THE LAND > AND PLANT ANY TREE FOR FOOD, YOU SHALL COUNT (rt.: 'RL) ITS FRUIT AS FORBIDDEN (literally: AS FORESKIN, rt.: 'RL)…. < This verse > is teaching about an infant.⁵⁴Tanh., Lev. 7:14. (Ibid., cont.:) THREE YEARS IT SHALL BE FORBIDDEN (rt.: 'RL) FOR YOU, when < an infant > can neither talk nor speak. (vs. 24:) IN THE FOURTH YEAR ALL ITS FRUIT SHALL BE [SET ASIDE (rt.: QDSh)], when his father dedicates (rt.: QDSh) him to the Torah. (Ibid., cont.:) FOR PRAISES TO THE LORD. [What is the meaning of PRAISES (with reference to an infant)?] < Those offered > from the time that he praises the Holy One. (Vs. 25:) BUT IN THE FIFTH YEAR YOU MAY EAT ITS FRUIT, < i.e. > from the time that he begins to read in the Torah. (Ibid., cont.:) TO INCREASE ITS YIELD FOR YOU. Hence our masters have taught (in Avot 5:21): AT FIVE YEARS OF AGE < HE IS READY > FOR < THE STUDY OF > SCRIPTURE; AT TEN, FOR MISHNAH. While in this world, one begets a son for himself, brings him to the elementary school, labors with him, and teaches him Torah. Then in the midst of troubles he dies. So he derives no happiness from him. The Holy One said to Israel: In this world, because the evil drive is found in you, you sin and your children die; but in the world to come I will remove the [evil] drive from among you.⁵⁵Below, 7:1. Then you shall beget and be happy, as stated (in Is. 65:23): THEY SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN, NOR BEAR CHILDREN IN TERROR, BECAUSE THEY ARE A SEED BLESSED OF THE LORD, AND THEIR OFFSPRING ALONG WITH THEM.