ChinuchAtHome

Study the special commandments applicable only in the holy land of Israel.  It applies to any Jew living or visiting the land of Israel.

TITHES

Honor G-d with your wealth and with the first of all your produce.

1. All fruits grown in Eretz Yisro'el mujst have four kinds of tithes separated from them: 
• terumah gedolah (Priests' due);
  
• ma'aser rishon (Levi's due)
• terumas ma'aser (Priests' due of ma'aswer rishon)
• ma'aser sheni (tithe brought by the farmer to Jerusalem in the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th years of teh shemita cycle) or ma'aswer oni (tithe for the poor given in the 3rd and the 6th years).  During the 7th or shemitah year, tithes are not separated.
2. The Torah requires that tithes be given from the five species of grain (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt), grapes (wine), and olives (oil).
3. All other edible crops are subject to tithes by Rabbinic decree.
4. Today, all tithing is by Rabbinic decree because most Jews live outside of Eretz Yisro'el.  The  Torah commands us to observe tithing when "you come to the Land, which implies that a majorityh of Jews are living in the Land.
5. Before tithes are separated, produce may  not be eaten.
6. Once the produce is sufficiently mature to be eaten, tithes must be separated.
7. Crops over which the owners have disclaimed ownership (hefker) are not tithed.
8. There are not tithes on crops grown in Eretz Yisroel by gentiles.
9. You may not separate tithes from one kind of produce for another or from produce free from the requirement of tithes (such as those from which tithes have already been removed or those grown outside eretz Yisroel) for those which require tithing.  You do not tithe from fruits gathered in one year for those gathered in another year.  For grains, legumes, or vegetables the New Year starts on Rosh Hashana.  For fruits (grown on trees) the New Year is Shevat 15 (Tu B'shevat).

TERUMAH GEDOLAH

This shall be the Priests' due from the people ... the first of your corn, wine, and oil ... For G-d has chosen him from among your tribes to minister in the name of G-d, both he and his sons forever.

Terumah gedolah is sanctified produce, that is, it must be eaten by Kohanim who are ritually clean and it must be kept from contact with ritually unclean people or vessels.  The Torah forbids a Levi or Yisroel from eating terumah gedolah.  Today, even Priests do not eat terumah gedolah as they can unwittingly acquire uncleanliness, including that resulting from contact with a dead body.

What amount is separated?  According to Torah law, separating even the smallest quantity of produce fulfills the mitzvah of terumah gedolah.  However, Rabbinical decree specifies three different quantities:

• a generous tithe is 1/40 of the crop
• an average tithe is 1/50
• and penurious tithe is 1/60

Today since the terumah gedolah cannot be eaten,  Rabbinical amounts are not relevant and we only separate a small quantity.  For this reason it is also permitted to separate the bad or damaged fruit.  Terumah gedolah may not be treated in a disrespectful way and should be burnt or buried or otherwise disposed of in a respectful manner.

MA'ASER RISHON

All ma'aser (rishon) have I given to the Levi as an inheritance.

B'midbar 18:24

After separation of terumah gedolah, ma'aser rishon is separated from the remainder.  How much does one separate?  Exactly one-tenth.  Ma'aser rishon is not sanctified produce, but rather the private property of the Levi.  TheLevi may thus sell or give it to a Yisroel, who may then eat it, even when unclean (provided that terumas ma'aswer has been separated).  Even today you must take from the best part of the fruits for ma'aser rishon.  When you are not sure whether fruits have been tithed, and especially today when there is no Levi of certain descent to claim them, you can eat the ma'aser rishon (after the terumas ma'aser has been separated).

TERUMAS MA'ASER

And you shall separate from it (the ma'aser rishon) an offering to G-d a tenth part of the ma'aser.

The Levi receiving ma'aser rishon (or the Yisroel owner of the fruits) must separate 1/10 of the ma'aswer rishon (which is 1/100 of the total amount) as terumas ma'aser.  Terumas ma'aser has all the same laws (regarding sanctification, uncleanliness, etc.) as terumah gedolah and therefore cannot be eaten and must be burnt or buried.

MA'ASER SHENI

You shall surely tithe the crops brought forth each year and shall eat it before th e L-rd your G-d in the place that He will choose ... the tithe of your corn, wine, and oil, and the firstlings of your corn, wine, and oil, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks ... And if the way be too far, so that  you cannot carry it, you may redeem it for money and bind up the money ... and go to the place which the L-rd your G-d shall chooose.   And you shall buy with the money whatever you desire, for meat or mutton or wine or strong drink, and eat before the L-rd your G-d.

After separating ma'aser rishon, 1/10 of the remainder is separated as ma'aser sheni (in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th years of the shemitah cycle).  Ma'aser sheni fruits are sanctified produce and cannot be eaten in uncleanliness.  When the Holy Temple was standing, the fruits were brought to Jerusalem and eaten there in purity or were redeemed (bought by the owner) at the fruit's value plus 25%, and the money used to buy food in Jerusalem.  Today, as it is frobidden to eat ma'aswer sheni, we always redem the fruits with a coin (smaller than the real value of the ma'aser), which then attains all the sanctity of the fruits.  The fruits are then permitted to be eaten by all.  The coin on which the ma'aser sheni has been redeemed may not be used for any purpose and must be destroyed.  The value of the coin must be equivalent to a perutah, i.e. the value of at least 0.025 grams of pure silver.  However, you may use a larger coin and use it to redeem several times in accordance with the number of perutahs it is worth.

MA'ASER ONI

At the end of three years, you shall bring forth all the tithe of the produce of that year and put it just within your gates.  And the Levi (becaues he has no part or inheritance with you), and the stranger (convert), and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates, shall come and eat of it and be satisfied.  So that the L-rd your G-d may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Devorim 14:28-29

In the third and sixth years of the shemitah cycle, ma'aser oni replaces ma'aser sheni.  This tithe is given to the poor who must eat it within the boundaries of Eretz Yisroel.  It has not holiness and may be eaten by the ritually unclean individuals.   It is forbidden to take ma'aser oni outside Eretz Yisroel, as the Torah says: "And they shall eat it within your gates adn be satiated" (Devorim 26:12).

NETA R'VOY

And when you shall come into the land and have planted all manner of trees for food ... in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy for a celebration to the L-rd.

Vayikra 19:23-24

For the first three years after planting a tree (even outside Eretz Yisroel), its fruits are forbidden to be eaten.  On the fourth year they are holy, and when the Holy Temple was standing, they were brought to Jerusalem.  Today, these fruits are redeemed for their value plus 25%, just like ma'aswer sheni.  When you have fruits that are definitely r'voy, you redeem them with the blessing, "... asher kideshonu b'mitzvosov v'tzivonu al pidyon r'voy."   Fruit grown outside Eretz Yisroel is redeemed without a blessing.  After redemption they may be eaten.

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