The
Law concerning
T'rumah,
Tithes and Taxes
372.
That an uncircumcised person
shall not eat of the t'rumah (heave offering), and the same applies to other
holy things. This rule is inferred from the law of the Paschal offering, by
similarity of phrase (Ex. 12:44-45 but any servant a man has bought for silver,
when you have circumcised him, then let him eat of it. “A sojourner and a hired servant does not eat
of it. and
Lev. 22:10 ‘And
no stranger eats the set-apart offering. A sojourner with the priest, or a
hired servant, does not eat the set-apart offering.) This command teaches
us that although it is not explicitly set forth in the Torah. Traditionally, it
has been learnt that the rule that the uncircumcised must not eat holy things
is an essential principle of the Torah and not an enactment of the Scribes. A
person who is just passing through or an hired servant, it is not until they
are circumcised are become converted, before they can be asked to eat Passover,
or any of the Paschal offering.
402.
Not to alter the order of separating the t'rumah and the tithes; the
separation be in the order first-fruits at the beginning, then the t'rumah,
then the first tithe, and last the second tithe (Ex. 22:28 Do not delay giving your harvest and your vintage.) (This command teaches us that Bikkurim, the
first fruit, which are picked when they become full and ripe, and are presented
to the Kohanim before any of it can be eaten).
403.
To give half a shekel every year (to the Sanctuary for provision of the
public sacrifices) (Ex. 30:13 “Everyone among those who are registered is to give this:
half a sheqel according to the sheqel of the set-apart place, twenty gĕrahs
being a sheqel. The half-sheqel is the contribution to יהוה.) ( The commandment this shall they give.
Elohim is showing us that money is like fire. Both can be either beneficial or
destructive, depending on how they are used. If one seeks atonement through
giving funds for charity, the good deed should be done with fire and
enthusiasm. A half a Shekel was a specific weight of silver that Moses
instituted as the standard coinage. The verse goes on to specify that a full
shekel consisted of twenty gerah).
404.
That a kohein who is unclean shall not eat of the t'rumah (Lev. 22:3-4 “Say to them, ‘Any man
of all your offspring throughout your generations who draws near the set-apart offerings which the children of
Yisra’ĕl set apart to יהוה, while he has uncleanness upon him, that being shall be cut off
from before Me. I am יהוה. ‘Any man of the offspring of Aharon, who is a leper or has a
discharge, does not eat the set-apart offerings
until he is clean. And whoever touches what is rendered unclean by a corpse, or
a man who has had an emission of semen,) (This
command teaches us that any man this include the Koheim will be spiritually
excision applies only to a contaminated person who eats from the offerings. The
command of this verse applies only to a contaminated person who eats from the
meat of the offerings. This forbids any person contaminated person to eat
terumah. By eating from the offerings while in a state of tumah, this person
ignored the presence of YAHWEH’s holiness on the offering. It is fitting,
therefore, that the unclean own presence be removed from before YAHWEH).
405.
That a person who is not a kohein or the wife or unmarried daughter of
a kohein shall not eat of the t'rumah (Lev. 22:10 ‘And no stranger eats
the set-apart offering. A sojourner with the priest, or a hired servant, does
not eat the set-apart offering) ( This command teaches us that the
one-fiftieth of a crop that is given to the Kohen, may not be eaten by any
non-Kohen, for he is a stranger, but in this context a more accurate
translation would be layman. Or the member of a Kohen’s household).
406.
That a sojourner with a kohein or his hired servant shall not eat of
the t'rumah (Lev. 22:10 A
sojourner with the priest,) (This command
teaches us that the slave of a Hebrew is not his own property, he is an
indentures servant who is obligated to serve, but is not owned by his master.
Therefore, he is not permitted to eat terumah).
407.
Not to eat tevel (something from which the t'rumah and tithe have not
yet been separated) (Lev. 22:15 ‘And let the priests not profane the set-apart
offerings of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they lift up to יהוה) (This command teaches us that the Kohanim
shall not desecrate terumah by feeding it to non-Kohanim. If they were to do
so, they would be causing the Yisraelites to bear the sin of eating what is
forbidden to them).
408.
To set apart the tithe of the produce (one tenth of the produce after
taking out t'rumah) for the Levites (Lev. 27:30 ‘And all the tithe of the
land – of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree – belongs to יהוה.
It is set-apart to יהוה. ;
Num. 18:24 but
the tithes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they present as a contribution to
יהוה,
I have given to the Lĕwites as an inheritance. That is why I have said to them,
‘Among the children of Yisra’ĕl they have no inheritance.) ( This commandment teaches that during the
first, second, fourth, and fifth year of the seven year Shemittah cycle, a
farmer sets aside one-tenth of his produce, which he must protect from
contamination and take to Jerusalem Holy City
409.
To tithe cattle (Lev. 27:32 And the entire tithe of
the herd and of the flock, all that passes under the rod, the tenth one is
set-apart to יהוה) ( This commandment teaches us that every tenth animal of those born
during the current season must be sanctified as an offerings. The entire newborn herd of flock is put into
a corral with a narrow opening, and the animal are allowed to leave one by one.
The owner or his designee touches each tent on with a pain brush marking it as
maser, or the tithe bechoros).
410.
Not to sell the tithe of the herd (Lev. 27:32-33 nor does he exchange
it.) (This command teaches us that it cannot be
redeemed, that which is set as a sin offering cannot be change).
411.
That the Levites shall set apart
a tenth of the tithes, which they had received from the Yisraelites, and give
it to the kohanim (called the t'rumah of the tithe) (Num. 18:26 ‘When you take from the
children of Yisra’ĕl the tithes which I have given you from them as your
inheritance, then you shall present a contribution of it to יהוה,
a tenth of the tithe,) ( This commandment
teaches us that even the Levites tithe to the Kohanim. When the levites receive
their one-tenth share from the Yisraelites, they must separate a tenth from it,
a tithe from the tithe, and give it to the Kohen).
412.
Not to eat the second tithe of cereals outside Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17 You are not allowed to
eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your
oil, or of the firstlings of your herd or your flock, or of any of your
offerings which you vow, or of your voluntary offerings, or of the contribution
of your hand.) (
This commandment lists foods
that may be eaten only in Jerusalem or, in the
case of the Tabernacle at Shiloh , in the
environs of the Sanctuary. The second tithe of
the grain must be eaten in Jerusalem.
413.
Not to consume the second tithe of the vintage outside of Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17 or of your new wine) (This command teaches us that the second
tithe of the wine must be eaten in Jerusalem
414.
Not to consume the second tithe of the oil outside of Jerusalem
(Deut. 12:17 or
of your oil,) (The second tithe of the oil must be eaten
in Jerusalem
415.
Not to forsake the Levites (Deut. 12:19 Guard yourself that you do not forsake
the Lĕwite as long as you live in your land.); but their gifts (dues) should be given to
them, so that they might rejoice on each and every festival (This command teaches us that this must be
done in the land, today we do not have the Levites, therefore we are still
obligated to support those who minister over us).
416.
To set apart the second tithe in the first, second, fourth and fifth
years of the sabbatical cycle to be eaten by its owner in Jerusalem
417.
To set apart the second tithe in
the third and sixth year of the sabbatical cycle for the poor (Deut. 14:28-29 At the end of every
third year you bring out all the tithe of your increase of that year and store
it up within your gates. “And the Lĕwite, because he has no portion nor
inheritance with you, and the sojourner and the fatherless and the widow who
are within your gates, shall come and eat and be satisfied, so that יהוה
your Elohim does bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.) ( This commandment teaches that if someone
has failed to distribute any of his tithe during the three year cycle, he must
deliver all of them to the proper recipient by Pesach of the fourth year. today, it must be separated out and given
to the poor. The Torah lists people who are more likely to be poor, but any
indigent person is eligible).
418.
To give the kohein the due portions of the flesh of all the cattle
(Deut. 18:3 “And
this is the priest’s right from the people, from those who bring an offering,
whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, and
the two cheeks, and the stomach;) (This
command teaches us that according to some teaching this is not mandatory in the
present outside of Yisrael, but it is permissible, and some observant people do
so. The foreleg, the jaw, and the maw. The Kohanim receive these specified
parts from every kosher animals that is slaughtered. This does not apply to Temple
419.
To give the first of the fleece to the kohein (Deut. 18:4 the first-fruits of your
grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your
sheep, you give to him.) (This command teaches
us that according to some people this is not mandatory in the present outside
of Yisrael, but it is permissible, and some observant people do so. In the case
of the three crops mentioned here, the Torah refers to Terumah. In the case of
sheerings, the sages set it at one-sixtieth).
420.
To set apart t'rumah g'dolah (the great heave-offering, that is, a
small portion of the grain, wine and oil) for the kohein (Deut. 18:4 the first-fruits of your
grain and your new wine and your oil,) (This
command teaches us that according to some people this is not mandatory in the
present outside of Yisrael, but it is permissible, and some observant people do
so. In the case of the three crops mentioned here, the Torah refers to terumah,
which the sages said should consist of approximately two percent of the crop.
In the case of shearings, the sages set it at one-sixtieth).
The year of the tithe, the year when only one of the two tithes of
the previous year is given. In the first two years of the cycle, both the
levits’s tithe and the maser sheni are separated, but in the third year, the
maser sheni is omitted, and replaced by the tithe of the poor. Alternatively,
the tithe of the poor has an especially exalted status. The levites are
entitled to their gift, because they gave up a share of the Land to devote
themselves to YAHWEH’s service. The second tithe is enjoyed by the farmer and
his family. But the tithe for the poor has a special status because it
symbolizes Hebrew generosity and concern for the less fortunate.
421.
Not to expend the proceeds of the second tithe on anything but food and
drink as prescribe by Torah (Deut. 26:14 I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor
have I removed any of it for any unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead.
I have obeyed the voice of יהוה my Elohim, I have done according to all that You have commanded
me.). (This command teaches us that anything use
outside of the order prescribe by Torah comes within the class of the phrase
"Given for the dead” This tithes design to be used for rejoicing must not
be use for morning).
422.
Not to eat the Second Tithe, even in Jerusalem, in a state of
uncleanness, until the tithe had been redeemed (Deut. 26:14 nor have I removed any
of it for any unclean use) (This command
teaches us that in our intense mourning such as the day of a close relative’s
death when it is forbidden to eat maser sheni. Similarly, the rest of this
verse refers to maser sheni, which may not be eaten if either it or the eater
is contaminated, nor may it be used to purchase shrouds or other needs of a
dead person).
423.
Not to eat the Second Tithe, when mourning (Deut. 26:14 I have not eaten any of
it when in mourning ) (This command teaches
us that in our intense mourning such as the day of a close relative’s death
when it is forbidden to eat maser sheni. This is a tithes for rejoicing only).
424.
To make the declaration, when bringing the second tithe to the
Sanctuary (Deut. 26:13 then
you shall say before יהוה your Elohim, ‘I have put away the set-apart portion from my house, and also have
given it to the Lĕwite, and to the stranger, and to the fatherless, and to the
widow, according to all Your command which You have commanded me. I have not
transgressed Your commands, nor have I forgotten.) (This
command teaches us that we are to repeat this command when we are offering it.).
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