Ma鈥檃srot 1:1
What foods must be tithed?
讻诇诇 讗诪专讜 讘诪注砖专讜转 讻诇 砖讛讜讗 讗讜讻诇 讜谞砖诪专 讜讙讚讜诇讬讜 诪谉 讛讗专抓 讞讬讬讘 讘诪注砖专讜转 讜注讜讚 讻诇诇 讗讞专 讗诪专讜 讻诇 砖转讞诇转讜 讗讜讻诇 讜住讜驻讜 讗讜讻诇 讗注”驻 砖讛讜讗 砖讜诪专讜 诇讛讜住讬祝 讗讜讻诇 讞讬讬讘 拽讟谉 讜讙讚讜诇 讜讻诇 砖讗讬谉 转讞诇转讜 讗讜讻诇 讗讘诇 住讜驻讜 讗讜讻诇 讗讬谞讜 讞讬讬讘 注讚 砖讬注砖讛 讗讜讻诇:
A general rule about which foods must be tithed: Any [plant] which is eaten by people, and is gathered, and grows from the ground, is liable for tithes. Another general rule was said: Any fruit which is edible at both the early and late stages of growth, even though [the farmer] delays picking it so that it will increase, it is liable for tithing whether small or large. But any fruit which is not edible until it grows larger is not liable for tithing until it becomes edible.
Comment
If tithing is a divine mandate, then doing it properly is of paramount importance. This Mishnah is a window into the daily reality of the Israelite farmer evaluating his crops for both economic and spiritual purposes.
Questions for Discussion
- Compare this teaching to our current service economy. Even prior to completion, a service may have some value to the client.
- When should taxes or charitable dollars be assessed against even partial payment for a service?
