Page 48 - HaMizrachi #26 Tu Bishvat USA 2021

TU BISHVAT READING

Rabbi Stewart Weiss

MITZVOT HAT’LUYOT BA’ARETZ MA’ASER

Give and Get

a’aser – the practice of tithing Ma’aser sheni was a second tithe taken as either a rabbinic enactment derived
– first appears in the Torah from the produce remaining after both from the mitzvah of tithing crops, or
Mnot as a direct command- teruma and ma’aser rishon were taken. merely a minhag paralleling ma’aser
ment, but as a practice done by the Avot. This was taken to Yerushalayim, where rishon or ma’aser ani. Others see it as
After Avraham’s military victory over it was eaten by the owner and his part of the general mitzvah of tzedakah
the four kings who attacked Sodom, he family while in a state of tahara, ritual (Sheilat Ya’avetz vol. 1 Ch. 3). Rambam
gave a tenth of the spoils to Malkitzedek, purity. It could also be “redeemed” by writes that the most desirable way
“priest of G-d” (Bereishit 14:18–20). The bringing an equivalent sum of money of performing the mitzvah of tzeda-
Midrash also states that Yitzchak tithed to Yerushalayim and spending it on kah is to give a fifth of one’s financial
his produce (Midrash Rabbah Toldot food and drink, consumed in a state of resources (Laws of Gifts to the Poor
64:6). ritual purity (Devarim 14:22–29). 7:5); giving a tenth is an “ordinary”
But the most well-known source con- In the third and sixth years of the sev- measure; giving less reflects stinginess.
cerns Ya’akov. While fleeing to his en-year Shemitah cycle, ma’aser ani for While the details of what may be
uncle Lavan’s home, Ya’akov prayed: “If the poor was given instead of ma’aser deducted from one’s income before
G-d will be with me, and give me bread sheni. In the fourth and seventh years, giving, and where those funds may be
to eat and clothes to wear, and I return “biur ma’asrot” would take place; tithes directed, are too numerous to be dis-
in peace to my father’s house, then that had not been distributed, eaten cussed here, the general principle is
from all that you give me I will give a or redeemed would be burned or oth- that we can donate to any charitable
cause or Torah institution, but funds
tenth to you” (Bereishit 28:18–22). erwise disposed of so it could not be may not be used for a mitzvah in which
used in any way (Devarim 14:22–29;
The practice of tithing appears again 26:12). we are already obligated (e.g. buying a
later on in the Torah, after Korach’s In the seventh year of the Shemitah mezuzah).
rebellion, when the rebels question cycle (coming this next Rosh Hasha- Regarding ma’aser kesafim, the
the institution of the Kehuna. G-d nah!), when fields are declared owner- Gemara states: לי ִ ב ְ ׁש ִּ ב ר ֵ ׂ ּ ש ַ ע — ״ר ֵ ׂ ּ ש ַ ע ְּ ת ר ֵ ׂ ּ ש ַ ע״
commands Aharon concerning giving less, no teruma or ma’aser was given ר ֵ ׁ ּ ש ַ ע ְ ת ִּ ת ֶ ׁש, “give in order to become
teruma (the farmer’s contribution to (Sifri on Devarim 14:28). wealthy” (Ta’anit 9a). While it is gen-
the Kohanim from crops grown in Ma’aser applies only in the Land of erally forbidden to test G-d, in this
Eretz Yisrael), and also commands Israel (Kiddushin 36b). There is a case it is allowed, as it says, “‘Bring the
Moshe regarding giving a tenth of the dispute as to whether teruma and full tithes into the storehouses… and
remaining produce to the Levi’im. This ma’aser are biblical or rabbinic mitz- try me now herewith,’ says the L-rd of
tenth is called ma’aser rishon – the vot. The consensus is that the mitzvot Hosts, ‘if I will not open the windows
“first ma’aser”: “To the Levi’im, I have associated with the Land are bibli- of Heaven to you, and pour out to you
given all the tithes in Israel as an inher- cally required only if the entire nation a blessing, that shall be more than suf-
itance, in return for the services which dwells here (Rambam, Laws of Teru- ficient’” (Ta’anit 9a).
they perform” (Bamidbar 18:21). These mah 1:21; Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah As with all the mitzvot in the Torah,
services included administering the 331:2). That miraculous phenomenon, while it may seem we are giving, in
Mishkan and Beit HaMikdash as well once just a far-away dream, is fast reality we are receiving! We are the
as serving as spiritual leaders through- approaching reality – if we are not ones who are the true recipients and
out Israel. there already! beneficiaries of every act of holiness
The Levi then separates ma’aser from There is another type of ma’aser which we merit to perform.
the ma’aser, i.e. a tenth of what he is applicable to all Jews everywhere: Rabbi Stewart Weiss is director of the
received, called terumat ma’aser, and ma’aser kesafim, tithing a portion of Jewish Outreach Center in Ra’anana, and a
gives it to a kohen. our (disposable) income. Most see it columnist for the Jerusalem Post.

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