Mishneh Torah — Tithes (Ma'aserot) הלכות מעשרות, Chapter 2

אֵינּוֹ חַיָּב לְהַפְרִישׁ מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא הַגּוֹמֵר פֵּרוֹתָיו לְאָכְלָן לְעַצְמוֹ אֲבָל הַגּוֹמְרָן לְמָכְרָן פָּטוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה וְחַיָּב מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יד כב) "עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר" וְגוֹ' (דברים יד כג) "וְאָכַלְתָּ" אֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא הַגּוֹמֵר תְּבוּאָתוֹ לְאָכְלָהּ:

A person is not obligated to tithe his produce by Scriptural Law unless he completes [the work associated with its preparation with the intent of] partaking of it himself. (mitzvah 395) explain that even if the person changes his mind and desires to sell the produce afterwards, he remains obligated to tithe. If, however, he completes those tasks with the intent of selling it, he is exempt according to Scriptural Law.). He is, however, obligated by Rabbinic decree. 88a states the shopping area of Beit Hino was destroyed three years before Jerusalem because they did not tithe produce that was sold in the marketplace. [This is derived from Deuteronomy 14:22:] "And you shall certainly tithe... and you shall partake...." One is obligated only when he completes the tasks with the intent of partaking.

וְכֵן הַלּוֹקֵחַ פָּטוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יד כב) "תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ". וְחַיָּב מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁלְּקָחָן אַחַר שֶׁנִּגְמְרוּ מְלַאכְתָּן בְּיַד מוֹכֵר. אֲבָל אִם נִגְמְרוּ בְּיַד לוֹקֵחַ חַיָּב לְעַשֵּׂר מִן הַתּוֹרָה:

Similarly, one who purchases such produce is exempt according to Scriptural Law, [for ibid. states]: "the produce of your crops." He is, however, obligated according to Rabbinic Law.When does the above apply? When he purchased it after the work necessary to prepare it was completed while it was in the possession of the seller. If, however, these tasks were completed while it was in the possession of the purchaser, he is obligated to tithe according to Scriptural Law. cite interpretations of Talmudic passages that support the Rambam's position, but explain that there are other Rishonim who follow the Ra'avad's position.

פֵּרוֹת שֶׁאֵינָן רְאוּיִים לַאֲכִילָה מִקָּטְנָן כְּגוֹן הַבֹּסֶר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ אֵינָן חַיָּבִין בְּמַעֲשֵׂר עַד שֶׁיִּגְדְּלוּ וְיֵעָשׂוּ אֹכֶל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז ל) "מִזֶּרַע הָאָרֶץ מִפְּרִי הָעֵץ" עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה פְּרִי. וְכֵן הַתְּבוּאָה וְהַקִּטְנִיּוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יד כב) "אֵת כָּל תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ" עַד שֶׁתֵּעָשֶׂה תְּבוּאָה וְזוֹ הִיא עוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת. וְקֹדֶם שֶׁתַּגִּיעַ הַתְּבוּאָה וְהַפֵּרוֹת לְעוֹנָה זוֹ מֻתָּר לֶאֱכל מֵהֶן כָּל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצֶה וּבְכָל דֶּרֶךְ שֶׁיִּרְצֶה:

Produce which is not fit to be eaten because it is too small, e.g., unripened produce 4:8). and the like, is not required to be tithed until it grows and becomes food, as [implied by Leviticus 27:30 which states that we must tithe:] "From the crops of the earth, from the fruit of the trees," i.e., [there is no requirement to tithe the crops] until they grow and become fruit. Similar concepts apply with regard to grain and legumes, as [implied by Deuteronomy 14:22:] "the produce of your crops," i.e., [there is no obligation] until it becomes produce.This refers to the "phase of tithing." Before grain and fruit reach this phase, one is permitted to eat as much as one wants from them, in any manner he desires.

פֵּרוֹת שֶׁהֵן רְאוּיִין לַאֲכִילָה בְּקָטְנָן כְּגוֹן הַקִּשּׁוּאִים וְהַמְּלָפְפוֹנוֹת שֶׁאֵין מַנִּיחִין אוֹתָן אֶלָּא כְּדֵי לְהוֹסִיף בְּגוּפָן בִּלְבַד אֲבָל רְאוּיִין הֵן מִתְּחִלָּה לַאֲכִילָה. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ חַיָּבִין בְּמַעֲשֵׂר בְּקָטְנָן. שֶׁמִּתְּחִלַּת יְצִיאָתָן בָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת:

Produce that is fit to be eaten when it is small, e.g., zucchini or cucumbers, but is left [to grow] only in order to increase its bulk, is required to be tithed while it is small, [for] they are fit to be eaten at the outset. As soon as they emerge, they are considered to have reached the "phase of tithing."

אֵי זוֹ הִיא עוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת. מִשֶּׁיַּגִּיעוּ הַפֵּרוֹת לְהַזְרִיעַ וְלִצְמֹחַ הַכּל לְפִי מַה שֶּׁהוּא הַפְּרִי. כֵּיצַד. הַתְּאֵנִים מִשֶּׁיֵּעָשׂוּ רַכִּים עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ רְאוּיִים לַאֲכִילָה אַחַר כ"ד שָׁעוֹת מִשְּׁעַת אֲסִיפָתָן. הָעֲנָבִים וְהַבְּאוּשִׁים וְהֵם הָעֲנָבִים הַדַּקִּים הַמִּדְבָּרִיּוֹת מִשֶּׁיֵּרָאֶה הַחַרְצָן שֶׁלָּהֶם מִבַּחוּץ. הָרִמּוֹנִים מִשֶּׁיִּמַּס הַפֶּרַח שֶׁלָּהֶן בֵּין הָאֶצְבָּעוֹת וְיֵצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם. הַתְּמָרִים מִשֶּׁיִּפָּתְחוּ כִּשְׂאוֹר. הָאֲפַרְסֵקִין מִשֶּׁיַּטִּילוּ גִּידִים אֲדֻמִּים. הָאֱגוֹזִים מִשֶּׁיִּתְפָּרֵשׁ הָאֹכֶל מֵהַקְּלִפָּה הַחִיצוֹנָה. הַשְּׁקֵדִים הַמְּתוּקִים מִשֶּׁתִּתְפָּרֵשׁ קְלִפָּתָן הַחִיצוֹנָה. הַמָּרִים פְּטוּרִין לְעוֹלָם. וּשְׁאָר כָּל בַּעֲלֵי קְלִפּוֹת כְּגוֹן הָאִצְטְרֻבּוֹלִין וְהַלּוֹט וְהַבָּטְנִים מִשֶּׁיַּעֲשׂוּ קְלִפָּה הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה הַסְּמוּכָה לָאֹכֶל. הַזֵּיתִים מִשֶּׁיַּעֲשׂוּ שֶׁמֶן אֶחָד מִתִּשְׁעָה מִמַּה שֶּׁהֵן רְאוּיִין לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּשֶׁיִּגָּמְרוּ. וְזֶה שְׁלִישׁ שֶׁלָּהֶן. הַתַּפּוּחִים וְהָאֶתְרוֹגִים מִשֶּׁיִּתְעַגְּלוּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן רְאוּיִין לַאֲכִילָה כְּשֶׁהֵם קְטַנִּים. הַתּוּתִים וְהָאוֹג מִשֶּׁיַּאֲדִימוּ. וְכֵן כָּל שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לְהַאֲדִים מִשֶּׁיַּאֲדִימוּ. הֶחָרוּבִין מִשֶּׁיֵּעָשׂוּ נְקֻדּוֹת נְקֻדּוֹת שְׁחוֹרוֹת. וְכֵן כָּל שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לְהַשְׁחִיר מִשֶּׁיִּנָּקְדוּ. הָאֲגַסִּים וְהַקְרוּסְטְמָלִין וְהַפְּרִישִׁים וְהָעוֹזְרָדִין מִשֶּׁיֵּעָשׂוּ קַרָחוֹת קַרָחוֹת לְבָנוֹת. וְכֵן כָּל שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לְלַבֵּן מִשֶּׁיִּקְרְחוּ קַרָחוֹת. הַתְּבוּאָה מִשֶּׁתָּבִיא שְׁלִישׁ. הַתִּלְתָּן מִשֶּׁתִּהְיֶה זַרְעָהּ רָאוּי לִצְמִיחָה אִם נִזְרַע. וּבְיָרָק הַקִּשּׁוּאִין וְהַדְּלוּעִין וְהָאֲבַטִּיחִין וְהַמְּלָפְפוֹנוֹת וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן חַיָּבִין בְּקָטְנָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וּשְׁאָר הַיָּרָק שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה עַד שֶׁיַּגְדִּיל אֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה. אֶשְׁכּוֹל שֶׁהִגִּיעַ בּוֹ אֲפִלּוּ גַּרְגִּיר יְחִידִי כֻּלּוֹ חִבּוּר לְמַעַשְׂרוֹת וּכְאִלּוּ הִגִּיעַ כֻּלּוֹ. וְלֹא אוֹתוֹ אֶשְׁכּוֹל בִּלְבַד אֶלָּא כָּל הָרוּחַ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ אוֹתָהּ הַגֶּפֶן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ הָאֶשְׁכּוֹל. וְכֵן רִמּוֹן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ בָּהּ אֲפִלּוּ פְּרֵדָה אַחַת כֻּלָּהּ חִבּוּר:

When is "the phase of tithing"? When the produce will reach a stage that it produces seed [that could] grow, each species according to its nature.What is implied? For figs, it is when they become soft enough to be fit to be eaten within 24 hours after they have been harvested.). For grapes and biushim, i.e., thin wild grapes, it is when their seeds can be seen from the outside. 1:2). For pomegranates, it is when their seed and is reinforced by the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (ibid.). The standard printed text reads slightly differently. will be crushed easily between one's fingers and produce liquid. For dates, it is when they swell like yeast.For peaches, it is when red strands appear within them.). For nuts, it is when the fruit becomes distinct from its outer shell. For sweet almonds, it is when their external shell becomes distinct. Bitter [almonds] are always exempt. For other fruits with shells, e.g., acorns, chestnuts, and pistachios, it is when the lower shell that is next to the fruit forms.For olives, when they produce one ninth of the amount of oil that they will produce when they are entirely ripe; 4:7. The Radbaz and the Kessef Mishneh support the Rambam's ruling. this is one third of their growth. For apples and esrogim, it is when they become round, 1:4 states that we are required to separate tithes from apples when they are small, it does not mention a stage of development. The Kessef Mishneh questions the source for the Rambam's statements. for they are fit to be eaten when they are small. For berries and sumac, it is when they become red. Similarly, for every fruit that becomes red, it is when it becomes red.For carobs, it is when black spots begin to appear. Similarly, for any fruit that becomes black, it is when spots begin to appear. For pears, small pears, 1:4), however, Rav Kapach suggests that the two terms may refer to apricots and peaches. quince, and thorn apples, 1:1). it is when their hairs begin to fall off. Similarly, for any fruit that becomes light-colored, it is when white lines appear.For grain, it is when it reaches a third of its growth. For chilba, it is when its seed is fit to grow if it would be planted. With regard to vegetables, we are required [to tithe] zucchini, squash, watermelon, cucumbers and the like when they are small, as we explained. Other vegetables which are not fit to be eaten until they grow large and are not required [to be tithed] until they are fit to be eaten.When even one grape on a cluster has reached the stage when it must be tithed, because of their connection, the entire [cluster is required to be] tithed. It is as if the entire cluster reached that stage of development. [Indeed,] not only that cluster, but the entire side of the vine on which that cluster grew [is considered to have reached the stage when the tithes must be separated]. Similarly, when even one seed of a pomegranate reaches the appropriate stage, the entire [side of the tree]. is considered as connected to it.

לֹא יִמְכֹּר אָדָם פֵּרוֹתָיו מִשֶּׁבָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת לְמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נֶאֱמָן עַל הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת. וְאִם בִּכְּרוּ נוֹטֵל אֶת הַבִּכּוּרוֹת וּמֻתָּר לִמְכֹּר הַשְּׁאָר שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא הִגִּיעַ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת. וְכֵן לֹא יִמְכֹּר אָדָם אֶת גִּפְתּוֹ וְאֶת זַגָּיו לְמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נֶאֱמָן עַל הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת לְהוֹצִיא מֵהֶן מַשְׁקִין. שֶׁהַמַּשְׁקִין הַיּוֹצְאִין מֵהֶם חַיָּבִין בְּמַעַשְׂרוֹת. וְלֹא אֶת תִּבְנוֹ לִלְקֹט מִמֶּנּוּ תְּבוּאָה לְמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נֶאֱמָן שֶׁהַתְּבוּאָה שֶׁתִּלָּקֵט מִן הַתֶּבֶן חַיֶּבֶת בְּמַעֲשֵׂר:

After produce has reached the "phase of tithing," a person should not sell it to someone who is not trusted with regard to tithes. If [a portion of] the produce ripened, he should remove that [portion] which ripened. It is then permitted to sell the remainder that has not reached the "phase of tithing."Similarly, a person should not sell olive dregs and grape dregs to someone who is not trusted with regard to tithes to extract [oil or wine] from them, for the liquids extracted from these dregs must be tithed. Nor should he sell straw so that grain can be picked from it to someone who is not trusted, for the grain picked from the straw must be tithed.

שִׁמְרֵי יַיִן שֶׁנָּתַן עֲלֵיהֶם מַיִם וְסִנְּנָן אִם נָתַן שְׁלֹשָׁה וּמָצָא אַרְבָּעָה מוֹצִיא מַעֲשֵׂר מִזֶּה הַיֶּתֶר מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר. וְאֵינוֹ מַפְרִישׁ עָלָיו תְּרוּמָה שֶׁהַתּוֹרֵם בַּתְּחִלָּה בְּלִבּוֹ עַל הַכּל כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בִּתְרוּמָה. מָצָא פָּחוֹת מֵאַרְבָּעָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמָּצָא יֶתֶר עַל מִדָּתוֹ וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן טַעַם יַיִן פָּטוּר:

[The following laws apply when a person] mixed water with wine dregs and filtered the mixture. If he mixed in three measures of water and received four measures, [the mixture is considered wine] and he must separate tithes for this extra measure from another source. 5:6. For there is no reason why that produce itself cannot be used for the tithes. He does not have to separate terumah, for when one separates terumah, he has the intent to separate terumah for the entire amount, as stated above with regard to terumah. 4:21. The Radbaz explains that this proviso is made with regard to terumah and not with regard to the tithes, because terumah is given by estimation, while the tithes must be measured exactly. If he received less than four measures, he is exempt, even if he received more than he mixed in and even if the mixture has the flavor of wine.

הַמַּקְדִּישׁ פֵּרוֹתָיו כְּשֶׁהֵן מְחֻבָּרִין עַד שֶׁלֹּא בָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעֲשֵׂר וּפְדָאָן וְאַחַר שֶׁפְּדָאָן הִגִּיעוּ חַיָּבִין בְּמַעֲשֵׂר. וְאִם בָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת וְהֵם בְּיַד הַגִּזְבָּר וְאַחַר כָּךְ פְּדָאָן פְּטוּרִין:

When a person consecrated his produce when it was attached to the ground, before they reached the "phase of tithing," and then redeemed them, and after he redeemed them, it reached that stage of development, he is obligated to tithe them. If the produce reached the "phase of tithing" while it was in the domain of the Temple treasurer and he redeemed it afterwards, he is exempt.