Mishneh Torah — First Fruits & Priestly Gifts הלכות ביכורים ושאר מתנות כהונה שבגבולין, Chapter 10

מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לִתֵּן לַכֹּהֵן רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ד) "וְרֵאשִׁית גֵּז צֹאנְךָ תִּתֶּן לּוֹ". וּלְוִיִּם בִּכְלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְוָה זוֹ. וְאֵין לְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז זוֹ שִׁעוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה. וּמִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים שֶׁלֹּא יִפְחֹת מֵאֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים. וְאֵינָהּ נוֹהֶגֶת אֶלָּא בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת כְּרֵאשִׁית הַדָּגָן. וְנוֹהֵג בְּחֻלִּין אֲבָל לֹא בְּמֻקְדָּשִׁין:

It is a positive commandment to give a priest the first shearings [of an animal], (positive commandment 144) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 508) include this commandment among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah. as [Deuteronomy 18:4] states: 'Give him the first shearings of your flock.' Levites are considered like Israelites with regard to this mitzvah. There is no minimum measure for these shearings according to Scriptural law. According to Rabbinical Law, one should not give less than a sixtieth. It applies only in Eretz [Yisrael], - for both are called "first" and hence share similarilities in many laws - and not the presents of meat. Although the Mishnah (Chulin 11:1) states that this mitzvah also applies in the Diaspora, according to the Rambam, the halachah does not follow that view.The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 333:1) follows the Rambam's view. The Tur and the Rama state that theoretically, this mitzvah should also be observed in the Diaspora, but in practice, that view is not followed. whether the Temple is standing or not like the first of the grain.. See Hilchot Terumah 1:1. It applies to ordinary animals, but not to consecrated ones.

כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁהִקְדִּישׁ בְּהֵמוֹת לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת וּגְזָזָן יָכוֹל יִהְיֶה חַיָּב לִפְדּוֹת וְלִתֵּן לַכֹּהֵן. אוֹ הִקְדִּישׁ בְּהֵמָה חוּץ מִגִּזָּתָהּ יָכוֹל יִהְיֶה חַיָּב בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים יח ד) "צֹאנְךָ". אֵין אֵלּוּ צֹאנוֹ:

What is implied? A person consecrated animals for the Temple treasury and then sheared them. Is he obligated to redeem them and give [the first shearings] to the priests? Or if one consecrated an animal with the exception of its shearings, is he obligated in the first shearings? It is written [ibid.]: "your sheep,' [i.e., the obligation applies only to "your sheep.'

כָּל הַקֳדָשִׁים שֶׁקָּדַם מוּם קָבוּעַ לְהֶקְדֵּשָׁן וְנִפְדּוּ חַיָּבִין בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. אֲבָל אִם קָדַם הֶקְדֵּשָׁן אֶת מוּמָן אוֹ שֶׁקָּדַם מוּם עוֹבֵר לְהֶקְדֵּשָׁן וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹלַד לָהֶן מוּם קָבוּעַ וְנִפְדּוּ פְּטוּרִים מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז:

There is an obligation [to give a priest] the first shearing of any consecrated animals that possessed a permanent blemish before they were consecrated and were [then] redeemed. If, however, they were consecrated before they were blemished or it had a temporary blemish before it was consecrated, and afterwards, it received a permanent blemish and it was redeemed, it is exempt from the first shearing.

אֵין חַיָּבִין בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז אֶלָּא הַכְּבָשִׂים בִּלְבַד. זְכָרִים כִּנְקֵבוֹת שֶׁהַצֶּמֶר שֶׁלָּהֶן הוּא הָרָאוּי לִבְגָדִים. הָיָה צִמְרָן קָשֶׁה וְאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לִלְבִישָׁה פְּטוּרִין מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. שֶׁאֵין מַתָּנָה זוֹ לַכֹּהֵן אֶלָּא כְּדֵי לִלְבּשׁ מִמֶּנָּה:

The only animals whose first shearings we are obligated [to give a priest] are sheep, both male and female, for their wool is fit [to make] garments. If their wool was stiff and not fit for [making] garments, they are exempt from the first shearings, for this present is given to the priest for the sole purpose of providing him with garments. 137a) is referring to the priestly garments which are made from wool and linen. For, otherwise, goats' wool is also fit to make ordinary garments. This explanation is also quoted by Siftei Cohen 333:2. The intent is not, however, that the first shearings should be used only for priestly garments, for as the Rambam states in the following halachah, the first shearings were given to the priests for their personal garments.

כֵּיוָן שֶׁזִּכָּה לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּתְרוּמוֹת שֶׁהֵן לַחְמוֹ וְיֵינוֹ. וְזִכָּה לוֹ בְּמַתְּנוֹת בְּהֵמָה וְקָדְשֵׁי מִקְדָּשׁ שֶׁהַבָּשָׂר שֶׁלּוֹ. זִכָּה לוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז לִלְבוּשׁוֹ. וּבְגֵזֶל הַגֵּר וְהַחֲרָמִים וּשְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה וּפִדְיוֹן בְּכוֹרוֹת לְהוֹצָאוֹתָיו וּשְׁאָר צְרָכָיו. שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק בְּנַחֲלָה וּבַבִּזָּה:

Since the Holy One, blessed be He, granted [a priest] the terumot which provide him with bread and wine also include oil and other fruits. and He granted him the presents of meat and the sacrificial meat of the Temple for meat, He provided them with the first shearings for their garments and [restitution for property] stolen from a [childless] convert,, Chapter 8. devotion offerings,, Chapter 6. ancestral fields [that were consecrated and not redeemed],4:19. and the redemption of the firstborn, for their expenses and for their other needs. [These are granted to the priests,] because they are not granted an ancestral portion of the land, nor a share in the spoils of war., Chapter 13, with regard to both these points.

הָיָה הַצֶּמֶר שֶׁלָּהֶן אָדֹם אוֹ שָׁחֹר אוֹ שָׁחוּם חַיָּבוֹת בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. אֲבָל אִם גָּזַז הַצֶּמֶר וּצְבָעוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתֵּן נִפְטָר מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. הִלְבִּינוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתֵּן חַיָּב לְהַפְרִישׁ אַחַר שֶׁלִּבְּנוֹ. הַתּוֹלֵשׁ צֶמֶר רְחֵלִים בְּיָדוֹ וְלֹא גָּזַז חַיָּב בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז:

If [a sheep's] wool was [naturally] red, black, or brown, there is an obligation [to give the priest] the first shearings. If, however, the wool was shorn and dyed, before it was given [to a priest], he is exempt from the first shearings. 11:3; Rav Kappach's edition)]. If one bleached it before he gave it [to the priests], he is obligated to set [the wool] aside after he bleaches it. When a person pulls out the wool of ewes by hand instead of shearing it, he is obligated in the first shearings.

רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז נוֹהֵג בְּכִלְאַיִם וּבִכְוִי וּבִטְרֵפָה. אֲבָל הַגּוֹזֵז אֶת הַמֵּתָה פָּטוּר:

There is an obligation [to separate] the first shearings from hybrids [of sheep], a ko'i, as referring to an animal which our Sages were unable to classify as a domesticated animal or a wild beast. and a sheep that is mortally ill. If, however, one shears a dead sheep, he is exempt. explains that this is derived from the very definition of the mitzvah, 'the shearing of the sheep.' A dead sheep is not considered a sheep and cutting its wool is not considered as shearing.

הַמַּפְרִישׁ רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז וְאָבַד חַיָּב בְּאַחֲרָיוּתָן עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן לַכֹּהֵן. הָאוֹמֵר כָּל גִּזּוֹתַי רֵאשִׁית דְּבָרָיו קַיָּמִין:

When a person sets aside the first shearings and they are lost, he is responsible to make restitution until he gives them to the priest.When a person says: 'Let all of my shearings be considered as the first shearings,' his words are of consequence. 136b notes that in this respect, although they are also called "the first," the first shearings are different from terumah and challah. With regard to these separations, if one designates his entire crop as terumah or his entire dough as challah, his statements are of no consequence. The Radbaz explains that the term terumah - and challah is also called terumah - implies elevating one portion of a group from another portion. Hence, there must always be something left behind. The term 'the first shearings' does not have such a connotation.Rav Yosef Corcus notes that Chulin 136b associates this ruling with the Rabbi Ila'ai's opinion that the first shearing applies in the Diaspora as well as in Eretz Yisrael. Thus there is an apparent contradiction between the Rambam's ruling here and his ruling in Halachah 1 that the mitzvah of the first shearing applies only in Eretz Yisrael. Rav Yosef explains that the Rambam's ruling in Halachah 1 is based on custom and not on the acceptance of the opinions that differ with Rabbi Ila'ai.

הַלּוֹקֵחַ גֵּז צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל עַכּוּ"ם אַחַר שֶׁגְּזָזָן הָעַכּוּ"ם פָּטוּר מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. לָקַח הַצֹּאן לְגִזָּתָן חַיָּב אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגָּדְלָה הַגִּזָּה בִּרְשׁוּת הָעַכּוּ"ם. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחוֹזְרִין הַצֹּאן לְעַכּוּ"ם אַחַר גְּזִיזָה. הוֹאִיל וְהַגּוֹזֵז יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַגְּזִיזוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ חַיָּב שֶׁאֵין הַחִיּוּב אֶלָּא בִּשְׁעַת הַגִּזָּה:

A person who purchases the shearings of a gentile's sheep after the gentile has shorn them is exempt from the first shearings. 138a) mention it only because of the contrast to the following laws. Rashi, however, interprets that passage differently. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 333:7) follows the Rambam's understanding, while the Tur and the Rama follow Rashi's view. When he purchases [the gentile's] sheep for their shearing, he is obligated even though the wool grew in the gentile's domain and the sheep are returned to the gentile after the shearing. Since the shearer is Jewish and the shearings belong to him, he is obligated. For the obligation takes effect only at the time of shearing.

הַלּוֹקֵחַ גֵּז צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ אִם שִׁיֵּר הַמּוֹכֵר מְעַט מִצֹּאנוֹ לְהִגָּזֵז הַמּוֹכֵר חַיָּב לְהַפְרִישׁ מִן הַמְּשֹׁאָר עַל הַכּל. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִתְחִיל הַמּוֹכֵר לִגְזֹז. חֲזָקָה אֵין אָדָם מוֹכֵר מַתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה. וְאִם לֹא שִׁיֵּר כְּלוּם הַלּוֹקֵחַ חַיָּב לְהַפְרִישׁ:

[The following laws apply when] a person purchases the shearings of a fellow Jew. If the seller left a portion of his sheep to shear, the seller is obligated to separate from [the shearing of] the remainder [the appropriate amount] for the entire [flock. This applies] even if the seller has not begun to shear [his sheep. The rationale is that we operate under] the assumption that a person will not sell the presents to be given the priests. If [the seller] did not leave any [sheep to shear], the purchaser is obligated to separate [the first shearings]. 138a explains that the seller tells the purchaser: 'I did not sell you the first shearings. The money I took from you is for the remainder of the wool that is not the priest's portion. I merely gave you the opportunity to give the presents to the priest of your choice."

הָיוּ שְׁנֵי מִינֵי גִּזָּה כְּגוֹן גִּזָּה לְבָנָה וְגִזָּה שְׁחוּמָה אוֹ גִּזַּת זְכָרִים וְגִזַּת נְקֵבוֹת. וּמָכַר מִין זֶה וְהִנִּיחַ הַמִּין הָאַחֵר. זֶה נוֹתֵן לְעַצְמוֹ וְזֶה נוֹתֵן לְעַצְמוֹ. [זֶה נוֹתֵן לְעַצְמוֹ] עַל מַה שֶּׁלָּקַח וְזֶה נוֹתֵן לְעַצְמוֹ עַל מַה שֶּׁשִּׁיֵּר:

[A different rule applies it] there are two types of shearings, e.g., white wool and brown wool, or wool from males and wool from females, and one sold one and retained possession of the other. Both [the purchaser and the seller] should give the first shearings, [the purchaser] on what he purchased and the seller on what he retained.

גֵּר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר וְהָיוּ לוֹ גִּזּוֹת וְאֵין יָדוּעַ אִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִתְגַּיֵּר נִגְזְזוּ אוֹ מִשֶּׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר הֲרֵי זֶה פָּטוּר. וְהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה:

When a convert converts and he possesses sheep that are being shorn and it is not known whether they were shorn before he converted or after he converted, he is exempt. [The rationale is when] one desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is upon him.

כַּמָּה צֹאן יִהְיֶה לוֹ וְיִהְיוּ חַיָּבוֹת בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. אֵין פָּחוֹת מֵחָמֵשׁ. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בַּגִּזָּה שֶׁלָּהֶן אֵין פָּחוֹת מִמִּשְׁקַל שִׁשִּׁים סֶלַע. וְתִהְיֶה גִּזַּת כָּל אַחַת מֵחֲמִשְּׁתָּן אֵין פָּחוֹת מִמִּשְׁקַל י"ב סֶלַע. הָיְתָה אַחַת מֵהֶם גּוֹזֶזֶת פָּחוֹת מִי"ב סֶלַע אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחֲמִשְּׁתָּן גּוֹזְזוֹת שִׁשִּׁים סֶלַע אוֹ יֶתֶר הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ פְּטוּרִין מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז:

How many sheep must there be for [a flock] to be obligated for the first shearings? No less than five, 11:1 derives this from a non-literal interpretation of II Samuel 25:18. provided their shearings is not less than the weight of 60 sela is approximately 20 grams in contemporary measure.Chulin 11:2 states that this measure is required, for only then will the gift to the priest be significant, for it will be possible to make a small garment from it. and the shearings of each one will not be less than the weight of 12 sela. If the shearings of one of them is less than the weight of twelve sela, [the flock] is exempt from the first shearing, even if [the wool of] the five of them weighs 60 selaim or more.

הַשֻּׁתָּפִין חַיָּבִין בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בְּחֵלֶק כָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶן כַּשִּׁעוּר. אֲבָל חָמֵשׁ צֹאן בִּלְבַד שֶׁל שְׁנֵי שֻׁתָּפִין פְּטוּרִין:

Partners are obligated in [the mitzvah of] the first shearings, provided each one's share is equal to the minimum measure [mentioned above]. It: however, there are only five sheep belonging to two partners, they are exempt. 135a) that the partnership is not recognized as a single entity. Hence, it is necessary for the share of each of the partners to comprise at least the minimum amount. The Kessef Mishneh notes the parallel to Chapter 6, Halachah 20.

רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז מִצְוָתָהּ בַּתְּחִלָּה וְאִם הִפְרִישׁ בֵּין בָּאֶמְצַע בֵּין בַּסּוֹף יָצָא. הָיוּ לוֹ חָמֵשׁ צֹאן וְגָזַז אַחַת מֵהֶן בִּלְבַד וּמָכַר גִּזָּתָהּ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ גּוֹזֵז שְׁנִיָּה וּמָכַר גִּזָּתָהּ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ גּוֹזֵז שְׁלִישִׁית וּמָכַר גִּזָּתָהּ. הַכּל מִצְטָרְפוֹת לְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. וְחַיָּב אֲפִלּוּ לְאַחַר כַּמָּה שָׁנִים. וְיֵשׁ לוֹ לְהַפְרִישׁ מִן הֶחָדָשׁ עַל הַיָּשָׁן וּמִזֶּה עַל זֶה. אֲבָל אִם הָיְתָה רָחֵל אַחַת וּגְזָזָהּ וְהִנִּיחַ גִּזָּתָהּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ קָנָה שְׁנִיָּה וּגְזָזָהּ וְהִנִּיחַ גִּזָּתָהּ אֵינָן מִצְטָרְפוֹת:

The mitzvah is to set aside the first shearing at the outset. If, however, one set it aside in the middle or at the end, he fulfilled his obligation.When a person owns five sheep, but [did not shear them together, i.e.,] he had one shorn alone and sold its wool, and then had another shorn alone and sold its wool, and then a third, etc., all of these are combined [to obligate him in the mitzvah of] the first shearing, 333: 12) states that this applies even if he sold some of his sheep after shearing them. even if this takes place over the course of several years. He may separate from the new shearings for the old shearings and from [the shearings of] one type of sheep for another. 333:12)]. If, however, he had one sheep, he sheared it and set aside its shearings, purchased a second sheep and set aside its shearings, [and continued doing so until he sheared five sheep], their shearings are not combined.

מִי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ גִּזּוֹת רַבּוֹת שֶׁל רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז וְרוֹצֶה לְחַלֵּק לַכֹּהֲנִים. לֹא יִתֵּן לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד פָּחוֹת מִמִּשְׁקַל חָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים מְלֻבָּן כְּדֵי בֶּגֶד קָטָן. לֹא שֶׁיְּלַבְּנוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתֵּן לוֹ אֶלָּא יִתֵּן לוֹ מִצֶּמֶר הַגִּזָּה כְּשֶׁהוּא צוֹאִי. כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בּוֹ אַחַר הַלִּבּוּן חָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים אוֹ יֶתֶר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ד) "תִּתֵּן לוֹ" שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בּוֹ כְּדֵי מַתָּנָה הַמּוֹעֶלֶת:

When a person has several shearings from the first shearings that he desired to divide among the priests, he should not give any priest less than the weight of five selaim of white wool, enough to make a small garment.The intent is not that he should whiten it and give it to them. Instead, he should give each of them [at least enough] unrefined wool to produce five selaim is 100 grams in contemporary measure. This measure of wool was sufficient to fashion a sash (avneit) for a priest (Chulin 138a). or more of wool after it has been whitened. [This is derived from Deuteronomy 18:14:] 'Give it to him,' i.e., give him a significant present.

רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז חֻלִּין לְכָל דָּבָר. לְפִיכָךְ אֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים אוֹתוֹ לְכֹהֶנֶת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא נְשׂוּאָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמַתְּנוֹת בְּהֵמָה. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁדִּין שְׁנֵיהֶן אֶחָד הוּא:

The first shearings are ordinary property in every regard. Therefore, I maintain that they may be given to a woman of the priestly family even if she is married to an Israelite like the presents of meat. It appears to me that they are governed by the same laws.