## Bekhorot Daf 53a

###### Bekhorot 53a:1
[Bekhorot 53a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:1)

מַתְנִי׳ **מַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה** נוֹהֵג בָּאָרֶץ וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת וְשֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת, בַּחוּלִּין אֲבָל לֹא בַּמּוּקְדָּשִׁין. וְנוֹהֵג בַּבָּקָר וּבַצֹּאן, וְאֵינָן מִתְעַשְּׂרִים מִזֶּה עַל זֶה. בַּכְּבָשִׂים וּבָעִזִּים וּמִתְעַשְּׂרִין מִזֶּה עַל זֶה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** The mitzva of **animal tithe is in effect** both **in Eretz** Yisrael **and outside of Eretz** Yisrael, **in the presence of,** i.e., in the time of, **the Temple and not in the presence of the Temple.** It is in effect **with regard to non-sacred** animals **but not with regard to sacrificial** animals. **And it is in effect with regard to the herd and the flock, but they are not tithed from one for the other;** and it is in effect **with regard to sheep and goats, and they are tithed from one for the other.**


###### Bekhorot 53a:2
[Bekhorot 53a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:2)

בֶּחָדָשׁ וּבַיָּשָׁן, וְאֵינָן מִתְעַשְּׂרִין מִזֶּה עַל זֶה. שֶׁהָיָה בַּדִּין, וּמָה אִם הֶחָדָשׁ וְהַיָּשָׁן שֶׁאֵינָן כִּלְאַיִם זֶה בָּזֶה אֵינָם מִתְעַשְּׂרִין מִזֶּה עַל זֶה, כְּבָשִׂים וְעִזִּים שֶׁהֵן כִּלְאַיִם זֶה בָּזֶה — אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ מִתְעַשְּׂרִין מִזֶּה עַל זֶה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְצֹאן״, מַשְׁמַע כׇּל צֹאן אֶחָד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
And it is in effect **with regard to** animals from **the new** flock **and with regard to** animals from **the old** flock, **but they are not tithed from one for the other. As by right, it should be** inferred: **If** in the case of animals from the **new** flock **and the old** flock, **which do not** carry the prohibition of mating **diverse kinds** when mated **with each other** because they are one species, **are** nevertheless **not tithed from one for the other,** then with regard to **sheep and goats, which do** carry the prohibition of mating **diverse kinds** when mated **with each other, is it not right that they will not be tithed from one for the other?** Therefore, **the verse states:** “And all the tithe of the herd **or the flock,** whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be sacred to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:32), indicating that with regard to animal tithe, **all** animals that are included in the term **flock** are **one** species.


###### Bekhorot 53a:3
[Bekhorot 53a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:3)

**גְּמָ׳** לֵימָא מַתְנִיתִין דְּלָא כְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא? דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: יָכוֹל יַעֲלֶה אָדָם מַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה מֵחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ וְיַקְרִיבֶנּוּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וַהֲבֵאתֶם שָׁמָּה עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם וְאֵת מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The mishna teaches that the mitzva of animal tithe is in effect both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of Eretz Yisrael. The Gemara suggests: **Let us say that the mishna is not in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Akiva. As it is taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Akiva says:** One **might** have thought that **a person** must **bring up** his **animal tithe from outside of Eretz** Yisrael **and sacrifice it** in the Temple. Therefore, **the verse states: “And you shall bring there your burnt offerings, and your offerings, and your tithes,** and the offering of your hand, and your vows, and your gift offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock” (Deuteronomy 12:6).


###### Bekhorot 53a:4
[Bekhorot 53a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:4)

בִּשְׁתֵּי מַעַשְׂרוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אֶחָד מַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה וְאֶחָד מַעְשַׂר דָּגָן, מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מַעֲלֶה מַעְשַׂר דָּגָן אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה מַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה, וּמִמְּקוֹם שֶׁאִי אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה מַעְשַׂר דָּגָן אִי אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה מַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Akiva explains: The plural form “tithes” indicates that **the verse is speaking of two tithes; one** is the **animal tithe, and** the other **one** is the second **tithe of grain,** i.e., produce. Since these two tithes are included in the same word, it is derived from here that **from the place where you bring up** the **tithe of grain,** i.e., Eretz Yisrael, as the obligation to separate tithe of grain applies only there, **you** also **bring up** the **animal tithe; but from a place where you do not bring up** the **tithe of grain,** i.e., outside of Eretz Yisrael, **you do not bring up** the **animal tithe** either. This *baraita*, which states the opinion of Rabbi Akiva, apparently contradicts the ruling of the mishna.


###### Bekhorot 53a:5
[Bekhorot 53a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:5)

אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, כָּאן לִיקְרַב, כָּאן לִיקְדַּשׁ. דַּיְקָא נָמֵי, דְּקָא נָסֵיב לַהּ תַּלְמוּדָא ״וַהֲבֵאתֶם שָׁמָּה״, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara responds: **You** may **even say** that the mishna is in accordance with the opinion of **Rabbi Akiva,** as the *baraita* and the mishna are referring to different cases. The *baraita* **there** is referring to the requirement to bring the animal tithe to Jerusalem for it **to be sacrificed** on the altar. By contrast, the mishna **here** is speaking of the status of every tenth animal; these animals are **to be** separated and **consecrated.** The Gemara adds that the language of the *baraita* **is also precise,** as it **adduces a derivation** from the phrase **“and you shall bring there.” Conclude from** this citation that the *baraita* is referring specifically to the requirement to bring the animal tithe and sacrifice it in Jerusalem.


###### Bekhorot 53a:6
[Bekhorot 53a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:6)

אִי הָכִי, מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵינוֹ קָרֵב, אַמַּאי קָדוֹשׁ? לְנֶאֱכָל בְּמוּמוֹ לַבְּעָלִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **If so, since** animal tithe outside of Eretz Yisrael **is not sacrificed** on the altar, **why is it consecrated?** What is the significance of its sanctity? The Gemara answers that it is consecrated **to** the extent that it may **be eaten by its owner** only **when** it develops **a blemish.**


###### Bekhorot 53a:7
[Bekhorot 53a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:7)

בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת וְשֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת. אִי הָכִי, אֲפִילּוּ הָאִידָּנָא נָמֵי! כִּדְרַב הוּנָא, דְּאָמַר רַב הוּנָא: גְּזֵירָה מִשּׁוּם יָתוֹם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that the animal tithe is in effect both **in the presence of the Temple and not in the presence of the Temple.** The Gemara challenges: **If so,** then **even nowadays** the *halakha* of the animal tithe should be in effect. Why then do people not remove every tenth animal from their flock or herd? The Gemara answers: The reason is **in accordance with** the opinion **of Rav Huna, as Rav Huna says:** This is a rabbinic **decree due to an orphan,** i.e., a baby animal whose mother died before it was born, lest it be included with the other animals to be tithed; the obligation of animal tithe does not apply to it.


###### Bekhorot 53a:8
[Bekhorot 53a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:8)

אִי הָכִי, מֵעִיקָּרָא נָמֵי לָא! אֶלָּא, אֶפְשָׁר בְּהַכְרָזָה. הָכָא נָמֵי, אֶפְשָׁר בְּהַכְרָזָה!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara challenges: **If so,** then even **originally,** when the Temple stood, the practice should have **also** been **not** to separate animal tithe in case an orphaned animal was included in the counting. **Rather,** the Gemara explains that there was no concern for an orphaned animal when the Temple stood, as it was **possible** to remove this concern **by** issuing **an announcement** to everyone that an orphaned animal is exempt from animal tithe. The Gemara suggests: **Here too,** it is **possible** to remove the concern **by** means of **an announcement** that an orphaned animal is exempt from animal tithe.


###### Bekhorot 53a:9
[Bekhorot 53a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:9)

אֶלָּא אָמַר רַבָּה: מִשּׁוּם תַּקָּלָה, וּמְנָא תֵּימְרָא דְּחָיְישִׁינַן לְתַקָּלָה? דִּתְנַן: אֵין מַקְדִּישִׁין, וְאֵין מַעֲרִיכִין, וְאֵין מַחְרִימִין בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather, Rabba says:** The reason animal tithe is no longer separated is **due to** concern that **a mishap** might occur. **And from where do you say that we are concerned for a mishap** after the destruction of the Temple? **As we learned** in a *baraita*: **One may neither consecrate** items, **nor valuate** an item’s worth based on its appraisal, **nor dedicate** items for sacred use (see Leviticus, chapter 27) and dedicate its monetary worth to the Temple treasury, **in the present** time, when the Temple is no longer standing.


###### Bekhorot 53a:10
[Bekhorot 53a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:10)

וְאִם הִקְדִּישׁ וְהֶעֱרִיךְ וְהֶחְרִים, בְּהֵמָה — תֵּיעָקֵר, פֵּירוֹת כְּסוּת וְכֵלִים — יֵרָקְבוּ, מָעוֹת וּכְלֵי מַתָּכוֹת — יוֹלִיךְ לְיָם הַמֶּלַח. וְאֵיזֶהוּ עִיקּוּר? נוֹעֵל דֶּלֶת בְּפָנֶיהָ וְהִיא מֵתָה מֵאֵילֶיהָ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* continues: **And if one did consecrate, or valuate, or dedicate** items for sacred use, the presence of these items might lead to the mishap of the violation of the prohibition against using consecrated property. Therefore, if one dedicated **an animal it should be destroyed.** If he dedicated **produce, garments, or vessels** made from materials that decompose, he should store them until **they decompose.** And if he dedicated **money or metal vessels, he should take them** and cast them **into the Dead Sea.** The Gemara adds: **And** in the case of an animal, **what** constitutes **uprooting? He locks the door before it, and it dies on its own** from hunger. This *baraita* indicates that animals that cannot be sacrificed nowadays must be left to die so that they are not used improperly.


###### Bekhorot 53a:11
[Bekhorot 53a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/53a:11)

אִי הָכִי, בְּכוֹר נָמֵי לָא לִיקְדֹּשׁ! בְּכוֹר בְּדִידַן תַּלְיָא מִילְּתָא? בְּרֶחֶם קָדוֹשׁ! הָכִי קָאָמַר: לִיקְנִינְהוּ לְאוּדְנַיְיהוּ לְגוֹיִם, דְּלָא לִיקְדֹּשׁ מֵעִיקָּרָא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara challenges: **If so,** then **a firstborn should also not be consecrated,** as this too could lead to a mishap. The Gemara responds: Does the **matter** of the consecration of **a firstborn depend on us?** The animal is automatically **consecrated upon** its exit from **the womb.** The Gemara answers that **this** is what the questioner **is saying: Let us sell the ears** of all firstborn animals **to gentiles** before their births, so **that they are not consecrated from the outset.** A firstborn animal that is jointly owned by a Jew and a gentile does not become consecrated as a firstborn.