## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 303

###### Sifrei Devarim 303:1
[Sifrei Devarim 303:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:1)

**וְנָתַתָּ לַלֵּוִי לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה**, תֵּן לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְפִי חֶלְקוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 303**⁵⁸
1. “And you shall *give it* to the Levite, the migrant, the fatherless, and to the widow” (Dt. 26:12).
Give to each his proper share.

footnotes:
⁵⁸ H:292-293;JN2:282-285.


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:2
[Sifrei Devarim 303:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:2)

**וְאָכְלוּ בִשְׁעָרֶיךָ וְשָׂבֵעוּ**, תֵּן לָהֶם כְּדֵי שָׂבְעָם. מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: אֵין פּוֹחֲתִים לֶעָנִי בַּגֹּרֶן מֵחֲצִי קַב חִטִּים אוֹ קַב שְׂעוֹרִים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה; רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: חֲצִי קַב.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“And they shall eat to their *satisfaction* within your gates” (Dt. 26:12).**
**Give them till they are full.**⁵⁹ 110.1
**On this basis they taught:**
**At the threshing floor,**
**they may not give to the poor**
**less than a half *qav* of wheat or a *qav* of barley:**
**words of R. Judah.**
**Rabbi says: a half *qav* [of either].**⁶⁰
2. **“Within your gates” (Dt. 26:12)—**
**this teaches that they do not expel him**
**from the Land to beyond the Land.**

footnotes:
⁵⁹ From this point, through 303.2, a nearly verbatim parallel appears at Pisqa’
⁶⁰ //M. Pe’ah 8:5; cf. T.Pe.4:2.


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:3
[Sifrei Devarim 303:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:3)

אָמְרוּ: מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית נִבְלָטָה הָיְתָה בִּירוּשָׁלִַם, וְנָתְנוּ לָהֶם חֲכָמִים שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת כִּכְּרֵי כֶסֶף, וְלֹא רָצוּ לְהוֹצִיאָם מִירוּשָׁלַיִם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**They reported:**
**a clan from the family of Nevalta**
**once lived in Jerusalem.**
**Sages offered them 600 talents of gold**
**[to remain there],**
**for they didn’t want to expel them from Jerusalem.**⁶¹ 110.1 The toseftan parallel explains the clan’s reluctance to leave Jerusalem, pointing out the antiquity of the clan’s residence in Jerusalem, despite its poverty.

footnotes:
⁶¹ //T.Pe’ah 4:11. Cf. Pisqa’


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:4
[Sifrei Devarim 303:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:4)

(דברים כו יג) **וְאָמַרְתָּ**, בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“Then you shall *declare*” (Dt. 26:13)—
in any language.


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:5
[Sifrei Devarim 303:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:5)

**לִפְנֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ**, זֶה וִדּוּי מַעֲשֵׂר.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“Before HASHEM *your God*” (Dt. 26:13):
Here’s the Tithing Confession!


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:6
[Sifrei Devarim 303:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:6)

**בִּעַרְתִּי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן הַבַּיִת**, זֶה מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וְנֶטַע רְבָעִי.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
3. **“I have expunged the *consecrated food* from my house” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**this refers to Second-tithe and the Fourth-year Orchard**⁶²; literally, “a four-year-old tree-planting.” According to Lv. 19:23-25, both tree-fruit and grapes (*kerem rev`ai*) during their first three years of planting are proscribed as “blocked” or “uncircumcised” ((*`orlah*). In the fourth year they are considered “sanctified,” and may be eaten only under particular circumstances (see M. MS.5:1-4). By the fifth year the fruit is wholly available for use as people deem necessary. In tannaitic legal texts, as in the case before us, Second tithe and *keter/net`a rev`ai* are often discussed together because of the similarity of the rules that apply to each.
**[both of which are divine property until deconsecrated].**

footnotes:
⁶² Heb: net`a rev`ai


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:7
[Sifrei Devarim 303:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:7)

**וְגַם נְתַתִּיו** לַלֵּוִי, זֶה מַעֲשֵׂר לֵוִי. **וְגַם נְתַתִּיו**, זוֹ תְּרוּמָה וּתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“Moreover, I have given *it* to the Levite” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**this refers to the Levitical-tithe.**⁶³ also known as *ma`aser r’ishon (*First tithe).
**“Likewise, have I given *it*” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**this refers to the Threshing-floor-offering**⁶⁴ literally, “that which is offered up. Often translated as “Heave-offering,” it is distributed to priests after the harvested crop is piled on the threshing-room floor. See *Pisqa’* 72.3.
**and the Offering from the Tithe.**⁶⁵, taken by Levites from their First-tithe and offered to priests. *ma`aser lewi* is given by commoners to Levites, who then give a tenth to the priests as *terumat ma`aser.*

footnotes:
⁶³ Heb: ma`aser lewi,
⁶⁴ Heb: terumah;
⁶⁵ Heb: terumat ma`aser


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:8
[Sifrei Devarim 303:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:8)

**לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה**, זֶה מַעְשַׂר עָנִי לֶקֶט שִׁכְחָה וּפֵאָה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין מְעַכְּבִים אֶת הַוִּידּוּי.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“To the migrant, the fatherless, and the widow” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**this refers to the Pauper’s-tithe, Gleanings,**
**the Forgotten-sheaf, and the Corner-offering,**
**even though [their absence from the rite]**
**does not impede the confession.**


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:9
[Sifrei Devarim 303:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:9)

**מִן הַבַּיִת**, זוֹ חַלָּה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“From my *house*” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**this implies the Dough-offering**
**[for dough is made in the home]**.⁶⁶

footnotes:
⁶⁶ M.MS.5:10; //T.MS.5:23)


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:10
[Sifrei Devarim 303:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:10)

דָּבָר אַחֵר **מִן הַבַּיִת**, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִפְרַשְׁתּוֹ מִן הַבַּיִת אֵין אַתְּ נִזְקָק לוֹ לְכָל דָּבָר.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Another word:**
**“*From* my house” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**having removed it *from* the house,**
**you have no further need for it**
**[and it may be destroyed].**⁶⁷

footnotes:
⁶⁷ //T.MS.5:24.


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:11
[Sifrei Devarim 303:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:11)

**כְּכָל מִצְוָתְךָ**, שֶׁאִם הִקְדִּים מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי לָרִאשׁוֹן אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“*In full compliance* with Your commandment” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**thus, if he separated Second-tithe before First-tithe,**
**he might as well have done nothing.**


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:12
[Sifrei Devarim 303:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:12)

**אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָנִי**, לֹא נְתַתִּיו לְמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“Which You commanded me” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**I’ve given none of it**
**to any one who isn’t entitled to it.**


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:13
[Sifrei Devarim 303:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:13)

**לֹא עָבַרְתִּי מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ**, לֹא הִפְרַשְׁתִּי מִמִּין עַל שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִינוֹ, לֹא מִן הַתָּלוּשׁ עַל הַמְחֻבָּר וְלֹא מִן הַמְחֻבָּר עַל הַתָּלוּשׁ, וְלֹא מִן הֶחָדָשׁ עַל הַיָּשָׁן וְלֹא מִן הַיָּשָׁן עַל הֶחָדָשׁ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“I have not transgressed Your commandment” (Dt. 26:13)—**
**I’ve not separated [the Tithe]**
**from one type of produce on behalf of another;**
**or from the uprooted on behalf of the still-rooted;**
**or from the still-rooted on behalf of the uprooted;**
**or from the new harvest on behalf of the old;**
**or from the old harvest on behalf of the new.**


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:14
[Sifrei Devarim 303:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:14)

**וְלֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי**, לֹא שָׁכַחְתִּי מִלְּבָרֵךְ וּמִלְּהַזְכִּיר שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“I have not *forgotten*” (Dt. 26:13—**
**that is, I haven’t *forgotten* to recite a blessing**
**[before separating the Tithe],**
**or to call to mind Your Name upon it.**⁶⁸

footnotes:
⁶⁸ //M. MS.5:11.


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:15
[Sifrei Devarim 303:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:15)

(דברים כו יד) **לֹא אָכַלְתִּי בְאֹנִי מִמֶּנּוּ**, הָא אִם אֲכָלוֹ בַּאֲנִינָה אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהִתְוַדּוֹת.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“I haven’t eaten from it during my *mourning*” (Dt. 26:14)—**
**thus, if he ate from it while *in mourning*,**
**he is unable to make the confession.**


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:16
[Sifrei Devarim 303:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:16)

**וְלֹא בִעַרְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ בְּטָמֵא**, לֹא שֶׁאֲנִי טָמֵא וְהוּא טָהוֹר וְלֹא שֶׁאֲנִי טָהוֹר וְהוּא טָמֵא.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“Nor have I expunged any of it *while unclean*” (Dt. 26:14)—**
**not *while I* was unclean and *it was* clean,**
**and not *while I* was clean and *it was* unclean.**


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:17
[Sifrei Devarim 303:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:17)

**וְלֹא נָתַתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ לְמֵת**, לֹא לָקַחְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ אָרוֹן וְתַכְרִיכִים לְמֵת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אִם לְמֵת, אַף לְחַי אָסוּר. מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר **לְמֵת**? שֶׁלֹּא הֶחֱלַפְתִּיו אֲפִלּוּ בְּדָבָר טָהוֹר.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“Nor have I offered *any of it to the dead*” (Dt. 26:14)—**
**I didn’t purchase with [its proceeds] a coffin or shrouds for a corpse**:⁶⁹
Words of R. Eliezer.
Said to him R. Akiva:
If [this is taught] of a corpse,
won’t it apply as well to a living person?
Why, then, does the Teaching state:
“To the *dead*” (Dt. 26:14)?
So that I don’t exchange a clean item
[for one already rendered unclean by the corpse].

footnotes:
⁶⁹ //M.MS.5:12.


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:18
[Sifrei Devarim 303:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:18)

**שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּקוֹל ה׳ אֱלֹהָי**, וַהֲבֵאתִיו לְבֵית הַבְּחִירָה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“I have *obeyed* the voice of HASHEM my God” (Dt. 26:14)—**
**by *bringing it* to the Chosen Abode.**


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:19
[Sifrei Devarim 303:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:19)

**עָשִׂיתִי כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָנִי**, שָׂמַחְתִּי וְשִׂמַּחְתִּי בוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“I have accomplished all that You have commanded me” (Dt. 26:14)—**
**by rejoicing and enabling others to rejoice.**⁷⁰

footnotes:
⁷⁰ //M.MS.5:12.


###### Sifrei Devarim 303:20
[Sifrei Devarim 303:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/303:20)

(דברים כו טו) **הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ**, עָשִׂינוּ מַה שֶּׁגָּזַרְתָּ עָלֵינוּ, עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ מַה שֶּׁהִבְטַחְתָּנוּ: **הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמְּךָ** וְכוּ׳.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“Gaze out from your holy Dwelling” (Dt. 26:15)—**
**we have done what You decreed upon us;**
**now, do for us what You promised us!**
**“From the Heavens, and bless Your people, Israel.” (Dt. 26:15)—**
**{with sons and daughters}.**⁷¹

footnotes:
⁷¹ //M.MS.5:13. The bracketed text continues Sifre’s citation of M. MS. 5:13, which has been abbreviated.