Pisqa’ 303⁵⁸

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.

“And they shall eat to their satisfaction within your gates” (Dt. 26:12). **Give them till they are full.**⁵⁹ 110.1

At the threshing floor, they may not give to the poor

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.

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’

“Then you shall declare” (Dt. 26:13)— in any language.

“Before HASHEM your God” (Dt. 26:13): Here’s the Tithing Confession!

3. “I have expunged the consecrated food from my house” (Dt. 26:13)— this refers to Second-tithe and the Fourth-year Orchard⁶²; literally, “a four-year-old tree-planting.” According to Lv. 19:23-25, both tree-fruit and grapes (kerem revai*) 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/neta revai 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: neta revai

“Moreover, I have given it to the Levite” (Dt. 26:13)— **this refers to the Levitical-tithe.**⁶³ also known as maaser 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. *maaser lewi is given by commoners to Levites, who then give a tenth to the priests as terumat ma`aser.

footnotes: ⁶³ Heb: maaser lewi, ⁶⁴ Heb: terumah; ⁶⁵ Heb: terumat maaser

“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.

“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)

“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.

“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.

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

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

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

“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.

“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.