Mishneh Torah — Second Tithes & 4th-Year Fruit הלכות מעשר שני ונטע רבעי, Chapter 8

הַלוֹקֵחַ בְּהֵמָה לְזִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים וְחַיָּה לִבְשַׂר תַּאֲוָה מִמִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ תַּגָּר וְאֵינוֹ מְדַקְדֵּק יָצָא הָעוֹר לְחֻלִּין. אֲפִלּוּ הָיוּ דְּמֵי הָעוֹר מְרֻבִּין עַל דְּמֵי הַבָּשָׂר. אֲבָל הַלּוֹקֵחַ מִן הַתַּגָּר לֹא יָצָא הָעוֹר לְחֻלִּין:

When a person [used money from the second tithe to] purchase a domesticated animal for a peace offering or a non-domesticated animal for ordinary meat from a person who is not a merchant and is not precise, the hide is considered as ordinary property. 1:3), the Rambam explains that when a seller is not meticulous in his business dealings and thinks that he sold only the meat and does not think about the hide, none of the money of the second tithe was used for the hide. Hence, the hide is considered as ordinary property. This applies even if the value of the hide is greater than the value of the meat. When, by contrast, a person purchases an animal from a merchant, the hide is not considered as ordinary property.

וְכֵן הַלּוֹקֵחַ כַּדֵּי יַיִן סְתוּמוֹת מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁדַּרְכָּם לְהִמָּכֵר סְתוּמוֹת מִמִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ תַּגָּר יָצָא הַקַּנְקַן לְחֻלִּין. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ הַמּוֹכֵר לִפְתֹּחַ רָאשֵׁי הַכַּדִּים כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא הַקַּנְקַן לְחֻלִּין. וְאִם רָצָה לְהַחֲמִיר עַל עַצְמוֹ וְלִמְכֹּר בְּמִדָּה יָצָא הַקַּנְקַן לְחֻלִּין:

Similar laws apply when a person purchases jugs of wine that are sealed. In a place where it is customary for these jugs to be sold while sealed from a person who is not a merchant, the jugs are considered as ordinary property. 27b which derives this concept through Biblical exegesis.) Hence, the money of the second tithe is not used for the containers. Therefore the seller must open the tops of the jugs so that they will not become ordinary property. 3:13)]. By opening a jug, the seller indicates that he wants the purchaser to pour it into his own containers. If the seller wishes to be stringent with himself and sell the wine in exact measure, the container is considered ordinary property.).

לְקָחָן פְּתוּחוֹת אוֹ סְתוּמוֹת בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לְהִמָּכֵר פְּתוּחוֹת. אוֹ שֶׁלָּקַח מִן הַתַּגָּר שֶׁמְּדַקְדֵּק בִּמְכִירָתוֹ לֹא יָצָא הַקַּנְקַן לְחֻלִּין. לָקַח סַלֵּי תְּאֵנִים וַעֲנָבִים עִם הַכְּלִי לֹא יָצְאוּ דְּמֵי הַכְּלִי לְחֻלִּין:

If he purchased [the jugs of wine] while they were open or sealed in a place where it is customary to sell them open or he purchased them from a merchant who is precise in his sale, the jugs are not considered as ordinary property. If a person purchases baskets of figs and grapes together with their container, the container is not considered as ordinary property.

לָקַח אֱגוֹזִים וּשְׁקֵדִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן יָצְאוּ קְלִפָּתָן לְחֻלִּין. לָקַח חוֹתָל שֶׁל תְּמָרִים יָצָא הַחוֹתָל לְחֻלִּין. קֻפָּה שֶׁל תְּמָרִים אִם דְּרוּסוֹת יָצְאוּ הַקֻּפּוֹת לְחֻלִּין. וְאִם לָאו לֹא יָצְאוּ לְחֻלִּין:

If a person purchases nuts, almonds, or the like, the shells are considered as ordinary property. If a person purchases a frond of dates, the frond is considered as ordinary property.[The following rules apply if] one purchases containers of dates. If they are pressed, the containers are considered as ordinary property. If not, they are not considered as ordinary property.

מִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ יַיִן שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וְהִשְׁאִיל קַנְקַנָּיו לְאוֹתוֹ מַעֲשֵׂר. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁסָּתַם אֶת פִּיהֶם לֹא קָנָה מַעֲשֵׂר אֶת הַקַּנְקַנִּים. כִּנֵּס הַיַּיִן לְתוֹכוֹ סְתָם אִם קָרָא שֵׁם וְעָשָׂהוּ מַעֲשֵׂר עַד שֶׁלֹּא סָתַם אֶת פִּיהֶם לֹא קָנָה מַעֲשֵׂר אֶת הַקַּנְקַנִּים. וְאִם מִשֶּׁסָּתַם פִּיהֶן קָרָא שֵׁם וְעָשָׂהוּ מַעֲשֵׂר קָנָה מַעֲשֵׂר אֶת הַקַּנְקַן. הִפְקִיד לְתוֹךְ הַקַּנְקַן רְבִיעִית חֻלִּין אוֹ שֶׁכָּנַס לְתוֹכָן שֶׁמֶן אוֹ חֹמֶץ אוֹ צִיר אוֹ דְּבַשׁ שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי סְתָם בֵּין מִשֶּׁסָּתַם בֵּין עַד שֶׁלֹּא סָתַם לֹא קָנָה מַעֲשֵׂר אֶת הַקַּנְקַנִּים:

When a person has wine from the second tithe and he lends 3:12), the Rambam writes that the person must make an explicit statement of the above intent. his jugs for that [wine from] the second tithe, the second tithe does not acquire the jugs, even though he seals them.[The following laws apply if] he stored the wine in them without making any statement:). The Radbaz explains, however, that the two rulings are not contradictory. If he designated [certain jugs] as the second tithe before he sealed their openings, the second tithe does not acquire the jugs. If he designated [the jugs] as the second tithe after he sealed their openings, the second tithe acquires the jugs.). If [the owner] stored a revi'it of ordinary wine in the jug, or put oil, vinegar, brine, or honey from the second tithe without making any statement - whether before or after he sealed [the jugs] - the second tithe does not acquire the jugs.

צְבִי שֶׁלְּקָחוֹ בְּכֶסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר וּמֵת יִקָּבֵר בְּעוֹרוֹ. לְקָחוֹ חַי וּשְׁחָטוֹ וְנִטְמָא הֲרֵי זֶה יִפָּדֶה כִּשְׁאָר פֵּרוֹת שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ. הַמַּנִּיחַ דִּינַר מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי לִהְיוֹת אוֹכֵל כְּנֶגְדּוֹ עַד שֶׁיֵּצֵא לְחֻלִּין וְהָיָה הַדִּינָר יוֹצֵא בְּעֶשְׂרִים מָעָה. אָכַל עָלָיו בְּעֶשֶׂר מָעָה וְהֻזְּלוּ הַמָּעוֹת לְאַחַר זְמַן וַהֲרֵי הַדִּינָר יוֹצֵא בְּאַרְבָּעִים מָעָה צָרִיךְ לֶאֱכל עָלָיו בְּעֶשְׂרִים מָעָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ יֵצֵא לְחֻלִּין. הוּקְרוּ הַמָּעוֹת וַהֲרֵי הַדִּינָר יוֹצֵא בְּעֶשֶׂר מָעִין אוֹכֵל עָלָיו בְּחָמֵשׁ מָעִין וְאַחַר כָּךְ יֵצֵא לְחֻלִּין:

When a deer that was purchased with money from the second tithe dies, it should be buried with its hide. 3:11); Hilchot Issurei Mizbeiach 2:10]. Rabbi Akiva Eiger questions this ruling, citing sources which indicate that in similar circumstances, the hide can be considered a separate entity and should be redeemed. If it was purchased while alive and slaughtered and then it became impure, it should be redeemed like other produce that became impure.[The following laws apply when a person] sets aside a dinar of money of the second tithe to purchase food against until he has exhausted its value and it becomes ordinary funds [and then the value of the coinage changes. For example,] the rate of exchange for a dinar was 20 me'ah. is six me'ah (Hilchot Eruvin 1:12). The person consumed ten me'ah's worth of food and then the value of the latter coinage decreased. Afterwards, the rate of exchange of a dinar was 40 me'ah. The person must spend another 20 me'ah on food before [the dinar] is considered as ordinary money. for food. Now, however, the value of that half a dinar in me'ah has doubled. The rationale is that the value of the coinage from the second tithe is calculated at the time and place it is transferred.If the value of a me'ah increased and the rate of exchange for a dinar was ten me'ah, he must spend another five me'ah on food. Afterwards, [the dinar] is considered ordinary money., but now the value of that half a dinar in me'ah has been halved.

הַלּוֹקֵחַ פֵּרוֹת בְּסֶלַע שֶׁל כֶּסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר וּמָשַׁךְ הַפֵּרוֹת וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק לִתֵּן הַסֶּלַע עַד שֶׁהוּקְרוּ הַפֵּרוֹת וְעָמְדוּ בִּשְׁתַּיִם. הֲרֵי זֶה מַפְרִישׁ עֲלֵיהֶן סֶלַע בִּלְבַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְנָתַן (אֶת) הַכֶּסֶף וְקָם לוֹ. בִּנְתִינַת הַכֶּסֶף קוֹנֶה. וְהַשָּׂכָר לַמַעֲשֵׂר:

When a person purchases produce with a sela of money from the second tithe and draws the produce into his domain, but did not pay for it before the value of the produce increased and it became worth two selaim, he is required to pay only a sela for the [produce]. [This is derived from the phrase]: "And he paid the money and it was acquired by him." [Implied is that the produce] is acquired by paying money., he acquired the produce. Hence, when he pays for it, he pays the price at the time of its acquisition. This is not implied by the Rambam's wording. Indeed, as the Ra'avad emphasizes, the Rambam's wording implies the very opposite. The profit is realized by the second tithe.

מָשַׁךְ פֵּרוֹת בִּשְׁתֵּי סְלָעִים וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק לִתֵּן הַמָּעוֹת עַד שֶׁהוּזְלוּ הַפֵּרוֹת וְעָמְדוּ בְּסֶלַע אֵינוֹ מַפְרִישׁ עֲלֵיהֶן מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אֶלָּא סֶלַע אַחַת. וּמוֹסִיף עָלֶיהָ סֶלַע שְׁנִיָּה מִן הַחֻלִּין וְנוֹתֵן לַמּוֹכֵר. וְאִם הָיָה הַמּוֹכֵר עַם הָאָרֶץ הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לִתֵּן סֶלַע שְׁנִיָּה מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁל דְּמַאי. נָתַן לוֹ סֶלַע שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק לִמְשֹׁךְ הַפֵּרוֹת עַד שֶׁעָמְדוּ בִּשְׁתַּיִם. מַה שֶּׁפָּדָה פָּדָה וְהַדִּין בֵּינֵיהֶן:

If he drew the produce into his possession when it was worth two selaim, but did not pay for it until the value of the produce decreased and it was worth only a sela, he should pay only one sela for them from the money of the second tithe. He must add another sela from ordinary funds and give it to the seller., he must pay that amount to the seller. Nevertheless, he may not pay that entire amount from the money of the second tithe, because now the produce is not worth that amount. Indeed, if the purchaser would give the seller the second sela from the money of the second tithe, the holiness of that money would not be transferred to the produce and the seller would be obligated to use it to purchase food which he would eat according to the stringencies of the second tithe. If the seller was a common person, it is permitted for him to give him a second sela from money from the second tithe of demai. 4:6), the Rambam explains the rationale for this ruling. Since we are speaking about demai, there is only a question if there is a prohibition involved. Accordingly, since a common person is more lax in his observance and will violate even more severe prohibitions, we assume that he is not precise in his observance of demai. Hence, it can be given to him. The commentaries question that explanation, for even though he is not careful in his observance, we should not be responsible for him possibly performing a transgression. See Halachah 13 where this concept is also mentioned.If [the purchaser] gave the seller a sela of money from the second tithe, but did not draw the produce into his possession until they were worth two [selaim], what he redeemed is redeemed and there is a judgment between the two of them. (Hilchot Mechirah 7:1). Should the seller choose that option and retract entirely, he must treat the produce in his possession as produce of the second tithe. If he still wants to carry out the sale at one sela, he must give the purchaser back a sela. The purchaser must consider all the produce as the second tithe, but the sela he was given is ordinary money.

נָתַן לוֹ סְלָעִים שְׁתַּיִם שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק לִמְשֹׁךְ הַפֵּרוֹת עַד שֶׁחָזְרוּ לִהְיוֹת בְּסֶלַע מַה שֶּׁפָּדָה פָּדָה. וּמִדַּת הַדִּין בֵּינֵיהֶם שֶׁהַמַּעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי פְּדִיָּתוֹ הִיא מְשִׁיכָתוֹ:

If [the purchaser] gave the seller two selaim of money from the second tithe, but did not draw the produce into his possession until its worth decreased to a sela, what he redeemed is redeemed, and the attribute of judgment must be exercised between them. and retracting from the transaction. If he takes that option, the seller must return the two selaim to him and from that time on, he may treat them as ordinary money. And the seller must treat the produce as produce of the second tithe. [The rationale for these laws is that] the redemption of the second tithe is like drawing it into possession.

מִי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ פֵּרוֹת חֻלִּין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְהָיוּ לוֹ מְעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם אוֹמֵר הֲרֵי הַמָּעוֹת הָהֵם מְחֻלָּלִין עַל הַפֵּרוֹת הָאֵלּוּ וְיֹאכְלֵם שָׁם בְּטָהֳרָה וְיֵצְאוּ אוֹתָן הַמָּעוֹת לְחֻלִּין בִּמְקוֹמָן:

If a person possessed ordinary produce in Jerusalem and money from the second tithe outside of Jerusalem, he may say: "The holiness of that money is transferred to this produce," and partake of them there in a state of ritual purity. The money then becomes ordinary funds in its location.

הָיוּ לוֹ מְעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְיֵשׁ לוֹ פֵּרוֹת חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם אוֹמֵר הֲרֵי הַמָּעוֹת הָאֵלּוּ מְחֻלָּלִין עַל פֵּרוֹת הָהֵם וְיֵצְאוּ הַמָּעוֹת לְחֻלִּין וְיַעֲלוּ הַפֵּרוֹת וְיֵאָכְלוּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת הַמָּעוֹת וְהַפֵּרוֹת בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד בִּשְׁעַת הַחִלּוּל:

If one had money from the second tithe in Jerusalem and produce outside of Jerusalem, he may say: "The holiness of this money is transferred to that produce." The money then becomes ordinary money and the produce must be brought to Jerusalem and eaten there. 2:4), the Rambam mentions another general principle that can be derived from this law: the holiness of money in the second tithe can be transferred even when the money is in Jerusalem. As mentioned above, the holiness of produce from the second tithe may not be transferred when that produce is in Jerusalem. For it is not necessary that the money and the produce be in the same place when the holiness of one is transferred to the other.

מִי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ מְעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְצָרִיךְ לָהֶם. וְיֵשׁ לַחֲבֵרוֹ פֵּרוֹת חֻלִּין שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְאָכְלָן. אוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ הֲרֵי הַמָּעוֹת הָאֵלּוּ מְחֻלָּלִין עַל פֵּרוֹתֶיךָ וְנִמְצְאוּ אוֹתָם הַפֵּרוֹת לְקוּחוֹת בְּכֶסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר וְיֹאכַל אוֹתָם חֲבֵרוֹ בְּטָהֳרָה. וְלֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם. וְיָצְאוּ הַמָּעוֹת לְחֻלִּין:

When a person possesses money from the second tithe in Jerusalem which he needs [for other purposes] and a colleague possesses ordinary produce that he desires to eat, he should tell his colleague: "The holiness of this money is transferred to your produce." Thus that produce is considered as purchased with the money of the second tithe. The colleague should then partake of them in a state of ritual purity. Thus he does not lose anything and [his] money becomes as ordinary funds.

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁהָיָה חֲבֵרוֹ בַּעַל הַפֵּרוֹת חָבֵר. שֶׁאֵין מוֹסְרִין פֵּרוֹת שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁל וַדַּאי אֶלָּא לְחָבֵר. לְפִיכָךְ אִם הָיוּ הַמָּעוֹת שֶׁל דְּמַאי אוֹמֵר כֵּן אַף לְעַם הָאָרֶץ. וּמֻתָּר לְחַלֵּל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי עַל פֵּרוֹת עַם הָאָרֶץ וְעַל מְעוֹתָיו וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶם שֶׁמָּא שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי הֵם:

When does the above apply? When his friend who owns the produce is a chavair., ch. 10. For produce that is definitely of the second tithe may be given only to a chavair. Therefore if the produce was [the second tithe of] demai, he may make such a stipulation with a common person as well.It is permitted to transfer the holiness of produce from the second tithe to produce or money belonging to a common person. We are not concerned that perhaps they are from the second tithe. 4:5)].The Ra'avad cites the Tosefta (Ma'aser Sheni 4:9) which places certain limitations on making such a transfer. The Radbaz explains that it is possible that these limitations were not accepted as halachah.

הַמַּנִּיחַ דִּינָר שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר לִהְיוֹת אוֹכֵל כְּנֶגְדּוֹ וְהוֹלֵךְ כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָכַל עָלָיו עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁאַר מִמֶּנּוּ (אֶלָּא) פָּחוֹת מִפְּרוּטָה יָצָא לְחֻלִּין. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁל דְּמַאי אֲבָל בְּשֶׁל וַדַּאי לֹא יֵצֵא לְחֻלִּין עַד שֶׁיִּשָּׁאֵר מִמֶּנּוּ פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה אַחַר שֶׁמּוֹסִיפִין אֶת הַחֹמֶשׁ. כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר מִמֶּנּוּ פָּחוֹת מֵאַרְבָּעָה חֻמְשֵׁי שְׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה:

[The following laws apply when a person] sets aside a dinar from the second tithe to [which to transfer the holiness of food that] he eats continuously. If he proceeded to do so to the extent that less than a p'rutah's worth [of its value] remained [consecrated], worth of the coins value had been used to redeem produce. the coin is considered as ordinary money. worth of value is not financially significant [the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Ma'aser Sheni 4:8)].When does the above apply? With regard to [the second tithe of] demai. With regard to produce that is definitely of the second tithe, [the coin] is not considered as ordinary money until less than a p'rutah's worth [of its value] remained [consecrated] after a fifth was added to it, e.g., less than four fifths of a p'rutah's worth [of its value] remain. (ibid.).

טְמֵאִין וּטְהוֹרִין שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹכְלִין אוֹ שׁוֹתִין כְּאֶחָד בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. וְרָצוּ הַטְּהוֹרִין לִהְיוֹת אוֹכְלִין מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁלָּהֶם. מַנִּיחִין סֶלַע שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וְאוֹמֵר. כָּל שֶׁהַטְּהוֹרִים אוֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִין סֶלַע זוֹ מְחֻלָּל עָלָיו. וְתֵצֵא הַסֶּלַע לְחֻלִּין שֶׁהֲרֵי אָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ בְּשָׁוְיָהּ בְּטָהֳרָה. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִגְּעוּ הַטְּמֵאִים בַּמַאֲכָל שֶׁלֹּא יְטַמְּאוּהוּ:

[The following laws apply when people who are] ritually impure and others who are ritually pure were eating together in Jerusalem and those who were ritually pure desired to [use their money from] the second tithe for food. They should place a sela from the second tithe aside and say: "The holiness of this sela is transferred to everything which those who are ritually pure eat." 2:10)] states that we are speaking about a situation where the person says: "When the person eats or drinks, what he eats or drinks will be retroactively considered as the second tithe from the present time." It is necessary to make this qualification, because otherwise, at the time he eats or drinks, he will be partaking of ordinary food and the consecration would not take effect until the object no longer exists.The Ra'avad also states that this ruling depends on the principle of bereirah, that retroactively the status of an object can be changed. The Radbaz and the Kessef Mishneh note that there is somewhat of a difficulty in ascribing such a position to the Rambam, for the Rambam maintains that in questions of Scriptural Law, the principle of bereirah does not apply. The Radbaz explains that since there is no prohibition involved, merely the question of when the transfer of holiness takes effect, all authorities agree that the principle of bereirah applies. The sela is then considered as ordinary property, for they eat and drank its value in a state of ritual purity. [This applies] provided the people who are impure do not touch the food 2:10 and the Rambam's commentary for more details.The commentaries suggest that the restrictions mentioned in Hilchot Ma'achalot Assurot 9:21 should also be observed. and thus cause it to contract impurity.