Chapter 1

אאַחַר שֶׁמַּפְרִישִׁין מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן בְּכָל שָׁנָה מַפְרִישִׁין מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יד כב) "עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר אֵת כָּל תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ". וּבְשָׁנָה שְׁלִישִׁית וְשִׁשִּׁית מַפְרִישִׁין מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי חֵלֶף מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

1After¹ separating the first tithe every year, we separate the second tithe,²as [Deuteronomy 14:22] states: "You shall certainly tithe the produce of your crops."³ In the third and sixth years [of the seven year agricultural cycle], we separate the tithe for the poor instead of the second tithe, as we explained.⁴

בבְּאֶחָד בְּתִשְׁרֵי הוּא רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְמַעֲשַׂר תְּבוּאוֹת וְקִטְנִיּוֹת וִירָקוֹת. וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הוּא אֶחָד בְּתִשְׁרֵי. וּבְט"ו בִּשְׁבָט הוּא רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְמַעֲשַׂר הָאִילָנוֹת. כֵּיצַד. תְּבוּאָה וְקִטְנִיּוֹת שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה שֶׁל שְׁלִישִׁית אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּגְמְרוּ וְנֶאֶסְפוּ בַּשְּׁלִישִׁית מַפְרִישִׁין מֵהֶן מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וְאִם לֹא בָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת אֶלָּא לְאַחַר רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה שֶׁל שְׁלִישִׁית מַפְרִישִׁין מֵהֶן מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. וְכֵן פֵּרוֹת הָאִילָן שֶׁבָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת קֹדֶם ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט שֶׁל שְׁלִישִׁית אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּגְמְרוּ וְנֶאֶסְפוּ אַחַר כֵּן בְּסוֹף שָׁנָה שְׁלִישִׁית מִתְעַשְּׂרִין לְשֶׁעָבַר וּמַפְרִישִׁין מֵהֶן מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וְכֵן אִם בָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת קֹדֶם ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט שֶׁל רְבִיעִית אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּגְמְרוּ וְנֶאֶסְפוּ בִּרְבִיעִית מַפְרִישִׁין מֵהֶן מַעֲשֵׂר עָנִי. וְאִם בָּאוּ לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת אַחַר ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט מִתְעַשְּׂרִין לְהַבָּא:

2The first of Tishrei is the beginning of the year with regard to the reckoning of the tithes⁵ for grain, legumes,⁶ and vegetables. Whenever the term Rosh HaShanah is used [with regard to crops], the intent is the first of Tishrei. The fifteenth of Shvat is the beginning of the year with regard to reckoning the tithes for fruit-trees.
What is implied? If grain or legumes⁷ reach "the phase of tithing"⁸ before Rosh HaShanah of the third year,⁹ the second tithe should be separated from them even though they became fully developed and were gathered in the third year. If, however, they did not reach "the phase of tithing" until after Rosh HaShanah of the third year,¹⁰ the tithe for the poor should be separated from them. Similarly, if fruit from trees reaches "the phase of tithing" before the fifteenth of Shvat in the third year, it should be tithed according to the previous year and the second tithe should be separated from it even though it became fully developed and was gathered at the end of the third year. Similarly, if it reaches "the phase of tithing" before the fifteenth of Shvat in the fourth year, the tithe for the poor should be separated from it even though it became fully developed and was gathered at the end of the fourth year. If it reaches "the phase of tithing" after the fifteenth of Shvat, it should be tithed like the produce of the coming year.

גוְהֶחָרוּבִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחָנְטוּ פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶן קֹדֶם ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט מִתְעַשְּׂרִין לְהַבָּא. הוֹאִיל וּמִתְעַשְּׂרוֹת מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁאֵין הַדְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִין אֶלָּא בְּחָרוּבֵי צַלְמוֹנָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן שֶׁאֵין רְאוּיִין לְמַאֲכַל רֹב הָאָדָם. וְהֵן הֵן שֶׁמִּתְעַשְּׂרוֹת מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. אֲבָל שְׁאָר הֶחָרוּבִין יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁהֵן כִּשְׁאָר פֵּרוֹת הָאִילָן:

3Even though the fruit of carob trees begin to ripen¹¹ before the fifteenth of Shvat, they should be tithed according to the coming year,¹² since [the obligation to] tithe them is of Rabbinic origin.¹³
It appears to me that this applies only with regard to the carobs that grow in Tzalmona or other similar species that are not fit to be eaten by most people. [Hence,] the obligation to partake of them is Rabbinic in origin.¹⁴ It appears to me that other carobs are similar to the rest of the fruit of the trees.¹⁵

דהַיָּרָק בִּשְׁעַת לְקִיטָתוֹ עִשּׂוּרוֹ. כֵּיצַד. אִם נִלְקַט בְּיוֹם רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה שֶׁל שְׁלִישִׁית אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבָּא לְעוֹנַת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת וְנִגְמַר בַּשְּׁנִיָּה מַפְרִישִׁין מִמֶּנּוּ מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. וְאִם נִלְקַט בָּרְבִיעִית מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי:

4Vegetables should be tithed according to the year when they are harvested.¹⁶ What is implied? If they are harvested on the day of Rosh HaShanah of the third year,¹⁷ the tithe for the poor should be separated from them even though they reached "the phase of tithing"¹⁸ and [indeed,] fully matured¹⁹ in the second year. If they were harvested in the fourth year, the second tithe should be separated from them.

הוְכֵן הָאֶתְרוֹג בִּלְבַד מִשְּׁאָר פֵּרוֹת הָאִילָן הֲרֵי הוּא כְּיָרָק וְהוֹלְכִין אַחַר לְקִיטָתוֹ בֵּין לְמַעֲשֵׂר בֵּין לִשְׁבִיעִית. כֵּיצַד. אִם נִלְקַט בַּשְּׁלִישִׁית אַחַר ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט מַפְרִישִׁין מִמֶּנּוּ מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה בַּשְּׁנִיָּה. וְכֵן אִם נִלְקַט בָּרְבִיעִית קֹדֶם ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט מַפְרִישִׁין מִמֶּנּוּ מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. נִלְקַט בָּרְבִיעִית אַחַר ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט מַפְרִישִׁין מִמֶּנּוּ מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי:

5Similarly, among fruit from trees, only an esrog is like a vegetable,²⁰ [i.e., the laws governing it] whether for tithes or the Sabbatical year are dependent on when it is harvested.
What is implied?²¹ If it was harvested in the third year after the fifteenth of Shvat, the tithe for the poor should be separated from it even though its growth was completed in the second year. Similarly, if it was gathered in the fourth year before the fifteenth of Shvat, the tithe for the poor should be separated from it.²² If it was harvested in the fourth year after the fifteenth of Shvat, the second tithe should be separated from it.

ווְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוֹלְכִין אַחַר לְקִיטָתוֹ אֶתְרוֹג בַּת שִׁשִּׁית שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לַשְּׁבִיעִית אֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה כְּזַיִת וְנַעֲשֵׂית כְּכִכָּר חַיֶּבֶת בְּמַעַשְׂרוֹת:

6Although the laws governing an esrog depend on when it was reaped, when an esrog that grew²³ in the sixth year entered the seventh year, tithes must be separated from it.²⁴ [This applies] even though it was only an olive size [at the beginning of the Sabbatical year] and became the size of a loaf of bread [during that year].

זהָאֶבְיוֹנוֹת שֶׁל צָלָף נוֹתְנִין עֲלֵיהֶן חֻמְרֵי אִילָן וְחֻמְרֵי זְרָעִים. שֶׁאִם הָיוּ מִשָּׁנָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לַשְּׁלִישִׁית וְנִלְקְטוּ קֹדֶם ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט מַפְרִישִׁין מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַפְרִישׁ מַעֲשֵׂר אַחֵר וּפוֹדֵהוּ. וְאַחַר שֶׁפּוֹדֵהוּ נוֹתְנוֹ לָעֲנִיִּים וְאוֹכֵל פִּדְיוֹנוֹ בְּתוֹרַת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וְנִמְצָא כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִפְרִישׁ מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי:

7We apply both the stringencies that apply to trees and those that apply to vegetables to caper berries.²⁵ Thus if they grew²⁶ from the second year and then they entered into the third year and were harvested before the fifteenth of Shvat, the first tithe should be separated. Afterwards, another tithe²⁷ should be separated. Afterwards, it should be redeemed²⁸ and then given to the poor.²⁹ The proceeds of the redemption [should be used to purchase food that] is eaten according to the laws of the second tithe. Thus it is as if he separated both the second tithe and the tithe for the poor.

חהָאֹרֶז וְהַדֹּחַן וְהַפְּרָגִין וְהַשֻּׁמְשְׁמִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִשְׁרִישׁוּ קֹדֶם רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה אֵין הוֹלְכִין בָּהֶן אֶלָּא אַחַר גְּמַר הַפְּרִי וּמִתְעַשְּׂרִין לְהַבָּא. וְכֵן פּוֹל הַמִּצְרִי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמִּקְצָתוֹ הִשְׁרִישׁ לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וּמִקְצָתוֹ לְאַחֲרָיו צוֹבֵר גָּרְנוֹ לְתוֹכוֹ וְתוֹרֵם וּמְעַשֵּׂר מִן הַכּל כְּאֶחָד שֶׁהַכּל הוֹלֵךְ אַחַר גְּמַר הַפְּרִי:

8With regard to rice, millet,³⁰ poppy seed, and sesame seeds, even if the plants took root before Rosh HaShanah, we are concerned only with the completion of [the maturity of] the fruit and thus the tithes are separated as is the produce of the coming year. Similarly, with regard to Egyptian beans, even though a portion of the crop took root before Rosh HaShanah and a portion afterwards, he should gather the entire crop together³¹ and separate terumah and tithes from the entire crop as one. For everything depends on the produce reaching maturity.³²

טהַבְּצָלִים הַסָּרִיסִים שֶׁמָּנַע מֵהֶם מַיִם שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה. וְשֶׁל בַּעַל שֶׁמָּנַע מֵהֶם שָׁלֹשׁ עוֹנוֹת לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה. מִתְעַשְּׂרִין לְשֶׁעָבַר. מָנַע מֵהֶם פָּחוֹת מִכָּאן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִתְחִילוּ לִיבַשׁ קֹדֶם רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה מִתְעַשְּׂרִין לְהַבָּא:

9When one withheld water from onions that do not produce sprouts³³ for 30 days or when one withheld water from onions that are irrigated from three periods³⁴ before Rosh HaShanah, they should be tithed as produce of the previous year.³⁵ If water was withheld from them for less than this - and thus they began to dry up before Rosh HaShanah³⁶ - they should be tithed like produce of the coming year.

יפּוֹל הַמִּצְרִי שֶׁהֵבִיא שְׁלִישׁ לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה אִם זְרָעוֹ לְזֶרַע מִתְעַשֵּׂר לְשֶׁעָבַר. זְרָעוֹ לְיָרָק מִתְעַשֵּׂר לְהַבָּא. זַרְעוֹ לְזֶרַע וּלְיָרָק אוֹ שֶׁזְּרָעוֹ לְזֶרַע וְחִשֵּׁב עָלָיו לְיָרָק מְעַשֵּׂר מִזַּרְעוֹ עַל יְרָקוֹ וּמִירָקוֹ עַל זַרְעוֹ. לֹא הֵבִיא שְׁלִישׁ לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה אִם זְרָעוֹ לְזֶרַע זַרְעוֹ מִתְעַשֵּׂר לְשֶׁעָבַר וִירָקוֹ בִּשְׁעַת לְקִיטָתוֹ עִשּׂוּרוֹ. וְהוּא שֶׁלִּקֵּט מִמֶּנּוּ לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה. אֲבָל אִם לִקֵּט מִמֶּנּוּ אַחַר רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה בֵּין יְרָקוֹ בֵּין זַרְעוֹ מִתְעַשֵּׂר לְהַבָּא. זְרָעוֹ לְזֶרַע וְחִשֵּׁב עָלָיו לְיָרָק הוֹלְכִין אַחַר מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ. זְרָעוֹ לְיָרָק וְחִשֵּׁב עָלָיו לְזָרַע אֵין מַחֲשֶׁבֶת זֶרַע חָלָה עָלָיו אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מָנַע מִמֶּנּוּ שָׁלֹשׁ אֲרָיוֹת. וְהוּא שֶׁהֵבִיא שְׁלִישׁ לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה אֲבָל אִם לֹא הֵבִיא שְׁלִישׁ אֶלָּא לְאַחֲרָיו אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִמְנַע מִלֶּאֱרוֹת מִמֶּנּוּ שָׁלֹשׁ אֲרָיוֹת. זַרְעוֹ לְזֶרַע וְעָשָׂה כֻּלּוֹ קַצָּצִין גְּמוּרִים לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה זַרְעוֹ מִתְעַשֵּׂר לְשֶׁעָבַר. וִירָקוֹ בִּשְׁעַת לְקִיטָתוֹ. מִקְצָתוֹ עָשָׂה קַצָּצִין גְּמוּרִין וּמִקְצָתוֹ לֹא עָשָׂה. זֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ צוֹבֵר גָּרְנוֹ לְתוֹכוֹ וְנִמְצָא מְעַשֵּׂר מִזַּרְעוֹ עַל יְרָקוֹ וּמִירָקוֹ עַל זַרְעוֹ:

10[The following rules apply when] Egyptian beans reached a third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah. If they were sown to produce seed,³⁷ they should be tithed as produce of the previous year.³⁸ If they were sown to produce vegetables,³⁹ they should be tithed as produce of the coming year.⁴⁰ If they were sown to produce seed and vegetables or they were sown to produce seed and then [the owner changed his mind and] thought to use them for vegetables [as well], he should tithe from the seeds for the vegetables and from the vegetables as seeds.⁴¹
[Different rules apply if the beans] did not reach one third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah. If they were sown to produce seed, they should be tithed as produce of the previous year, but the vegetables that grow should be tithed as they are harvested, provided they are harvested before Rosh HaShanah.⁴² If they were harvested after Rosh HaShanah, both the vegetables and the seeds should be tithed as produce of the coming year.⁴³
If they were sown to produce seed and then [the owner changed his mind and] thought to use them for vegetables [only], the ruling follows his thought.⁴⁴ If they were sown to produce vegetables and then [the owner changed his mind and] thought to use them for seed, the thought to use it as seed has no effect on the ruling unless he withholds water from it for three periods⁴⁵ when [the plants] would be ordinarily be watered,⁴⁶ and [then,] only when [the plants] reached a third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah.⁴⁷
[They are, however, governed by different rules] if they did not reach a third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah even though he withheld water from it for three periods when [the plants] would be ordinarily be watered.⁴⁸ If he sowed it for the purpose of seed and the entire crop grew into fully grown plants before Rosh HaShanah, the seed is tithed as produce of the previous year⁴⁹ and the vegetables are tithed according to when they are harvested.⁵⁰ If some of the plants reached their full growth and some did not, to this situation, we apply our Sages' statement:⁵¹ "He should gather the entire crop together." [Thus he should separate tithes from the entire crop as one,] separating tithes from the seed for the vegetables and from the vegetables as seed.⁵²

יאפֵּרוֹת שָׁנָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁנִּתְעָרְבוּ בְּפֵרוֹת שְׁלִישִׁית. אוֹ שֶׁל שְׁלִישִׁית בִּרְבִיעִית. הוֹלְכִין אַחַר הָרֹב. מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה מַפְרִישׁ מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי מִן הַכּל. אֲבָל לֹא מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי שֶׁמַּעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי חָמוּר שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא קֹדֶשׁ וּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי חֹל. וְכֵן פֵּרוֹת שֶׁהֵן סָפֵק אִם פֵּרוֹת שְׁנִיָּה הֵם אוֹ פֵּרוֹת שְׁלִישִׁית מַפְרִישׁ מֵהֶן מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי:

11When produce from the second year becomes mixed with produce from the third year or produce from the third year becomes mixed with that of the fourth year, we follow the majority.⁵³ If it is half and half, we separate the second tithe from the entire quantity, but not the tithe for the poor.⁵⁴ [The rationale is that] the second tithe is a more severe obligation, because it is sacred,⁵⁵ while the tithe for the poor is ordinary produce. Similarly, when there is a doubt whether produce is from the second year or from the third year, the second tithe should be separated from it.

יבכָּל הַפְּטוּר מִמַּעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן פָּטוּר מִן הַשֵּׁנִי וּמִן הֶעָנִי. וְכָל שֶׁחַיָּב בְּרִאשׁוֹן חַיָּב בִּשְׁנֵיהֶם. וְכָל הַתּוֹרֵם מוֹצִיא מַעֲשֵׂר. וְכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ תּוֹרֵם אֵינוֹ מוֹצִיא מַעֲשֵׂר זֶה. כָּל מִי שֶׁאִם תָּרַם תְּרוּמָתוֹ תְּרוּמָה כָּךְ אִם עִשֵּׂר מַעֲשֵׂר זֶה הֲרֵי הוּא מַעֲשֵׂר. וְכָל מִי שֶׁאֵין תְּרוּמָתוֹ תְּרוּמָה כָּךְ אִם הוֹצִיא מַעֲשֵׂר זֶה אֵינוֹ מַעֲשֵׂר:

12Whenever [produce] is exempt from the first tithe, it is also exempt from the second tithe and the tithe for the poor.⁵⁶ Whenever produce is obligated in the first tithe, it is also obligated in these two. All of the individuals who may separate terumah may also separate [these] tithes and those who are not entitled to separate terumah may not separate these tithes. When any of the individuals with regard to whom it is said that [they should not separate terumah,] but if they separate terumah, the separation is effective⁵⁷ separate these tithes, their separation is effective. When any of the individuals with regard to whom it is said that their separation of terumah is ineffective⁵⁸ separate these tithes, their separation is ineffective.

יגפֵּרוֹת שֶׁהוֹצִיא מֵהֶן מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקָּבְעוּ לַמַּעֲשֵׂר הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹכֵל מֵהֶן עַרְאַי קֹדֶם שֶׁיּוֹצִיא מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. שֶׁאֵין הָרִאשׁוֹן קוֹבֵעַ לַשֵּׁנִי. אֲבָל מִשֶּׁנִּקְבְּעוּ לְמַעֲשֵׂר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹן אָסוּר לֶאֱכל מֵהֶן עַרְאַי עַד שֶׁיּוֹצִיא אֶת הַשֵּׁנִי אוֹ אֶת מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי:

13When a person separated the first tithe from produce before the obligation to tithe was established,⁵⁹ he may snack from it before separating the second tithe. For [separating] the first [tithe] does not create an obligation to separate the second. If, however, an obligation to tithe was established, it is forbidden to snack from it until he separates the second tithe or the tithe for the poor even though he has already separated the first tithe.⁶⁰

ידמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי הוֹאִיל וְטָעוּן הֲבָאַת מָקוֹם אֵין מְבִיאִין אוֹתוֹ מִחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ כִּבְכוֹר בְּהֵמָה. לְפִיכָךְ לֹא חִיְּבוּ לְהַפְרִישׁ מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי בְּסוּרְיָא. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁמַּעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁמַּפְרִישִׁים בְּאֶרֶץ שִׁנְעָר וּבְמִצְרַיִם פּוֹדִין אוֹתוֹ וּמְבִיאִין דָּמָיו לִירוּשָׁלַיִם. וְכֵן יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁלֹּא חִיְּבוּ מְקוֹמוֹת אֵלּוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אֶלָּא כְּדֵי לִקְבֹּעַ מַעֲשֵׂר עָנִי כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עֲנִיֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל סוֹמְכִים עֲלֵיהֶם:

14Since the second tithe must be brought [to Jerusalem],⁶¹ it should not be brought from the Diaspora,⁶² like the firstborn of animals.⁶³ For this reason, our Sages did not obligate the separation of the second tithe in Syria.⁶⁴
It appears to me that the second tithe that is separated in Babylonia and in Egypt⁶⁵ should be redeemed and the proceeds taken to Jerusalem. Similarly, it appears to me that the obligation to separate the second tithe in these places was established only so that there would be an obligation to separate the tithe for the poor, so that the poor of the Jewish people could rely on it.⁶⁶

Sefaria: Torat Emet 363 · Public domain · sefaria.org

Sefaria: Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007 · CC BY-NC · sefaria.org