Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor Chapter 6

Chapter 6

א מַתָּנָּה אַחֶרֶת שִׁשִּׁית יֵשׁ לָעֲנִיִּים בְּזֶרַע הָאָרֶץ וְהוּא הַמַּעֲשֵׂר שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לָעֲנִיִּים וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי:

1 Another, sixth type of gift for the poor from agriculture is the tithe that they give to the poor, and it is called ma'esar ani [the "tithe for the poor"].

ב וְזֶהוּ סֵדֶר תְּרוּמוֹת וּמַעַשְׂרוֹת. אַחַר שֶׁקּוֹצֵר זֶרַע הָאָרֶץ אוֹ אוֹסֵף פְּרִי הָעֵץ וְתִגָּמֵר מְלַאכְתּוֹ מַפְרִישׁ מִמֶּנּוּ אֶחָד מִן הַחֲמִשִּׁים. וְזֶהוּ הַנִּקְרָא תְּרוּמָה גְּדוֹלָה וְנוֹתְנָהּ לַכֹּהֵן. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה (דברים יח ד) "רֵאשִׁית דְּגָנְךָ תִּירשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ". וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַפְרִישׁ מִן הַשְּׁאָר אֶחָד מֵעֲשָׂרָה. וְזֶהוּ הַנִּקְרָא מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן. וְנוֹתְנוֹ לַלֵּוִי. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה (במדבר יח כד) "כִּי אֶת מַעְשַׂר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" וְגוֹ' וְנֶאֱמַר (במדבר יח כא) "וְלִבְנֵי לֵוִי הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי אֶת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל":

2 And this is the system of gift-offerings and tithes: After one has harvested the seeds of the earth or gathered the fruit of the trees and has completed one's labor, one must separate out one-fiftieth, and this is called the terumah gedolah [the "great gift-offering"], and one gives it to a priest. About this it is said in the Torah, (Deut. 18:4) You shall also give him the first fruits of your new grain and wine and oil. Afterwards, one separates from the remainder one-tenth, and this is called ma'asér rishon [the "first tithe"], and one gives it to a Levite. About this it is said in the Torah, (Num. 18:24) For it is the tithes set aside by the Israelites [as a gift to the LORD hat I give to the Levites as their share], and (Num. 18:21) To the Levites I hereby give all the tithes in Israel.

ג וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַפְרִישׁ מִן הַשְּׁאָר אֶחָד מֵעֲשָׂרָה וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וְהוּא לִבְעָלָיו וְאוֹכְלִין אוֹתוֹ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כז לא) "וְאִם גָּאל יִגְאַל אִישׁ מִמַּעַשְׂרוֹ". וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (דברים יד כב) "עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר" (דברים יד כג) "וְאָכַלְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר":

3 Afterwards, one separates from the remainder one-tenth, and this is called ma'asér sheni [the "second tithe"], and this is for the owner to eat in Jerusalem. About this it is said, (Lev. 27:31) If anyone wishes to redeem any of his tithes, [he must add one-fifth to them], and about this it is said, (Deut. 14:22-23) You shall set aside every tenth year [of all of the yield of your sowing that is brought from the field.] You shall consume the tithes [of your new grain and wine and oil, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God, in the place where He will choose to establish His name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God forever].

ד עַל הַסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה מַפְרִישִׁין בְּשָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה מִן הַשָּׁבוּעַ וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה וּבָרְבִיעִית וּבַחֲמִישִׁית. אֲבָל בַּשְּׁלִישִׁית וּבַשִּׁשִּׁית מִן הַשָּׁבוּעַ אַחַר שֶׁמַּפְרִישִׁים מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן מַפְרִישׁ מִן הַשְּׁאָר מַעֲשֵׂר אַחֵר וְנוֹתְנוֹ לָעֲנִיִּים וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. וְאֵין בִּשְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים אֵלּוּ מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אֶלָּא מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (דברים יד כח) "מִקְצֵה שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים תּוֹצִיא אֶת כָּל מַעְשַׂר תְּבוּאָתְךָ בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִיא וְהִנַּחְתָּ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ" (דברים יד כט) "וּבָא הַלֵּוִי". וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (דברים כו יב) "כִּי תְכַלֶּה לַעְשֵׂר":

4 According to this system, they should tithe, in a seven year cycle, the first, second, fourth, and fifth years, but on the third and the sixth years of the seven year cycle, after one has tithed ma'asér rishon, one should take out from the remainder another tithe [one-tenth] and give it to the poor. This is called ma'esar ani. In these two years there is no ma'asér sheni but instead ma'esar ani. About this it is written, (Deut. 14:28-29) Every third year you shall bring out the full tithe of your yield of that year, but leave it within your settlements. Then the Levite, [who has no hereditary portion as you have, and the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in your settlements shall come and eat their fill, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the enterprises you undertake.] And about this it is written, (Deut. 26:12) When you have set aside in full the tenth part [of your yield in the third year--the year of the tithe--and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat their fill in your settlements].

ה שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה כֻּלָּהּ הֶפְקֵר וְאֵין בָּהּ לֹא תְּרוּמָה וְלֹא מַעַשְׂרוֹת כְּלָל לֹא רִאשׁוֹן וְלֹא שֵׁנִי וְלֹא מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ שְׁמִטַּת קַרְקַע מַפְרִישִׁין בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּבְעַמּוֹן וּבְמוֹאָב מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן וּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָאֲרָצוֹת אֵלּוּ קְרוֹבוֹת לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהְיוּ עֲנִיֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל נִסְמָכִין עָלֶיהָ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית. וַהֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מַפְרִישִׁים בְּאֶרֶץ עַמּוֹן וּמוֹאָב מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי בַּשְּׁבִיעִית. אֲבָל בְּאֶרֶץ שִׁנְעָר מַפְרִישִׁין בַּשְּׁבִיעִית מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי כְּסֵדֶר רֹב הַשָּׁנִים:

5 In the Sabbatical year, everything is considered "ownerless" [and thus community property] and there are no gift-offerings or tithes at all, not ma'aser rishon, not ma'asér sheni, not ma'esar ani, and outside of the Land of Israel there is no sabbatical for the land. [However,] they tithe in Egypt, Amon, and Moav ma'asér rishon and ma'esar ani because these lands are close to the Land of Israel so that the poor of Israel may be sustained on it during the seventh year. This is the law of Moses at Sinai that they tithe in the lands of Amon and Moav ma'esar ani in the seventh year, but in Shinar they separate out ma'aser sheni in the seventh year according to the system of the majority of the years.

ו מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁלָּקַח הַלֵּוִי מַפְרִישׁ מִמֶּנּוּ אֶחָד מֵעֲשָׂרָה וְנוֹתְנוֹ לַכֹּהֵן וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא תְּרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר. וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (במדבר יח כו) "וְאֶל הַלְוִיִּם תְּדַבֵּר":

6 As for ma'asér rishon that was taken for the Levite, he [the Levite] separates from it one-tenth and gives it to a priest. It is called terumat ma'aser [the "gift offering of the tithe"], and about this it is written, (Num. 18:26) Speak to the Levites [and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites their tithes, which I have assigned to you as your share, you shall set aside from them one-tenth of the tithe as a gift to the LORD].

ז בַּעַל הַשָּׂדֶה שֶׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו עֲנִיִּים וְהָיָה לוֹ שָׁם מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. נוֹתֵן לְכָל עָנִי שֶׁיַּעֲבֹר עָלָיו מִן הַמַּעֲשֵׂר כְּדֵי שָׂבְעוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כו יב) "וְאָכְלוּ בִשְׁעָרֶיךָ וְשָׂבֵעוּ":

7 When the poor pass by an owner of a field, and he has ma'esar ani, he gives to each poor person who comes before him his fill from the tithe, as it is said, (Deut. 14:29) In your settlements shall come and eat their fill.

ח כְּדֵי שָׂבְעוֹ כַּמָּה. אִם מִן הַחִטִּים נוֹתֵן לֹא יִפְחֹת מֵחֲצִי קַב. וְאִם מִן הַשְּׂעוֹרִים לֹא יִפְחֹת מִקַּב. וְאִם מִן הַכֻּסְּמִין לֹא יִפְחֹת מִקַּב. וּמִן הַגְּרוֹגָרוֹת לֹא יִפְחֹת מִקַּב. וְאִם מִן הַדְּבֵלָה לֹא יִפְחֹת מִמִּשְׁקַל חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים סֶלַע. וְאִם מִן הַיַּיִן לֹא יִפְחֹת מֵחֲצִי לֹג. וְאִם מִן הַשֶּׁמֶן לֹא יִפְחֹת מֵרְבִיעִית. וְאִם מִן הָאֹרֶז רֹבַע הַקַּב. נָתַן לוֹ יָרָק נוֹתֵן לוֹ מִשְׁקַל לִיטְרָא וְהוּא מִשְׁקַל חֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים דִּינָר. מִן הֶחָרוּבִין שְׁלֹשָׁה קַבִּין. מִן הָאֱגוֹזִים עֲשָׂרָה. מִן הָאֲפַרְסְקִין חֲמִשָּׁה. מִן הָרִמּוֹנִים שְׁנַיִם. אֶתְרוֹג אֶחָד. וְאִם נָתַן לוֹ מִשְּׁאָר הַפֵּרוֹת לֹא יִפְחֹת מִכְּדֵי שֶׁיִּמְכְּרֵם וְיִקַּח בִּדְמֵיהֶן מְזוֹן שְׁתֵּי סְעֻדּוֹת:

8 How much is (Deut. 14:29) their fill? If it is from wheat, one should not give less than a half a kav. If it is from barley, not less then one kav. If it is from spelt, not less than one kav. If it is from dried figs, not less than one kav. And if it is from fig cakes, not less than one shekel and five hundred twenty selah. If from wine, not less than half a log. If from oil, not less than one-fourth a kav. And if from rice, not less then one-fourth of a kav. If he gives from green herbs, he gives him a shekel of a litre when a shekel is thirty-five dinarim. From carobs, three kavim. From nuts, ten. From peaches, five. From pomegranates, two. [From] citrons, one. And if he gave from the remainder of fruits, [he gives him] not less than enough for him to sell in the market and take from their value food for two meals.

ט הָיָה לוֹ דָּבָר מֻעָט וְהָעֲנִיִּים מְרֻבִּין וְאֵין בּוֹ כְּדֵי לִתֵּן לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כַּשִּׁעוּר נוֹתֵן לִפְנֵיהֶם וְהֵן מְחַלְּקִין בֵּינֵיהֶם:

9 If he only had a small amount of food and there a great many poor people so that he cannot give to each and every one according to the right measure, he gives [the whole] to them, and they divide it up amongst themselves.

י וּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי הַמִּתְחַלֵּק בַּגֹּרֶן אֵין בּוֹ טוֹבַת הֲנָאָה לַבְּעָלִים אֶלָּא הָעֲנִיִּים בָּאִים וְנוֹטְלִין עַל כָּרְחוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ עָנִי שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מוֹצִיאִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּדוֹ. אֲבָל הַמִּתְחַלֵּק בַּבַּיִת יֵשׁ לוֹ טוֹבַת הֲנָאָה לַבְּעָלִים וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְכָל עָנִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה:

10 If ma'esar ani is divided from the store-chamber, the owners have no right to decide how it is to be apportioned among the poor. Only the poor may come and take regardless of the owner's feelings on the matter. And even if [the owner] is [also] a poor person of Israel, they take it [the tithe] from his possession [for distribution]. But if they divide it up in [his] home [instead of at the store-chamber], then the owner has the right to give it to the poor person that he wants.

יא הָיָה לוֹ מַעֲשֵׂר בַּגֹּרֶן וְרָצָה לִתְּנוֹ לְעָנִי קְרוֹבוֹ אוֹ מְיֻדָּעוֹ. יֵשׁ לְהַפְרִישׁ מֶחֱצָה לִתְּנוֹ לוֹ. וְהַחֵצִי מְחַלְּקוֹ לְכָל עָנִי שֶׁיַּעֲבֹר כַּשִּׁעוּר שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ:

11 If he had the tithe in the store-chamber, and he wanted to give it to a certain poor relative or someone known to him, he may separate out up to half of it to give to him, and the other half is divided among all the poor who come with the method described previously.

יב בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים שֶׁאֵינוֹ נוֹתֵן לֶעָנִי אֶלָּא כְּדֵי שָׂבְעוֹ בַּשָּׂדֶה. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הַמַּעֲשֵׂר בַּבַּיִת מְחַלְּקוֹ לְכָל הָעֲנִיִּים אֲפִלּוּ כְּזַיִת כְּזַיִת. שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְצֻוֶּה לִתֵּן כְּדֵי שָׂבְעוֹ אֶלָּא בַּשָּׂדֶה. שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינוֹ מוֹצֵא שָׁם לִקַּח שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כו יב) "וְאָכְלוּ בִשְׁעָרֶיךָ וְשָׂבֵעוּ":

12 When does it apply that one gives to the poor in order to give them their fill? When it is from the field, but if he had the tithe in his home [because he was poor himself], they divide it among all the poor people, even if it is only a little bit for each, for one is only commanded to give to satisfy his [the poor person's] fill only from the field, for one finds that this is the case in the verse, (Deut. 14:29) In your settlements shall come and eat their fill.

יג בָּאוּ אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה לַבַּיִת. נוֹתְנִין לָאִשָּׁה תְּחִלָּה וּפוֹטְרִין אוֹתָהּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹתְנִין לָאִישׁ. אָב וּבְנוֹ. אִישׁ וּקְרוֹבוֹ. שְׁנֵי אַחִין. שְׁנֵי שֻׁתָּפִין. שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן עָנִי. נוֹתֵן לוֹ הָאַחֵר מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי שֶׁלּוֹ:

13 If a man and a woman come [begging] to a house, they should give to the woman first and then send her away and then afterwards give to the man. [In the cases of] a father and his son, a man and his relative, two brothers, two partners, when one of them becomes poor, the other one gives ma'esar ani to him.

יד שְׁתֵּי עֲנִיִּים שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ שָׂדֶה בַּאֲרִיסוּת. זֶה מַפְרִישׁ מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי מֵחֶלְקוֹ וְנוֹתְנוֹ לַחֲבֵרוֹ. וְכֵן חֲבֵרוֹ מַפְרִישׁ מֵחֶלְקוֹ וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ:

14 If there are two poor people who rented a field in partnership [with the owner], one may separate out ma'esar ani and give it to the other [his partner], and so may the other take out from his share and give it to him.

טו הַמְקַבֵּל שָׂדֶה לִקְצֹר אָסוּר בְּלֶקֶט שִׁכְחָה וּפֵאָה וּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. אֵימָתַי בִּזְמַן שֶׁקִּבְּלָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ לִקַּח חֵלֶק בְּכָל הַשָּׂדֶה כְּגוֹן שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ שְׁלִישָׁהּ אוֹ רְבִיעָהּ בִּשְׂכָרוֹ. אֲבָל אִם אָמַר לוֹ בַּעַל הַשָּׂדֶה שְׁלִישׁ מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה קוֹצֵר בִּלְבַד הוּא שֶׁלְּךָ אוֹ רְבִיעַ מַה שֶּׁתִּקְצֹר הֲרֵי זֶה אֵין לוֹ כְּלוּם עַד שֶׁיִּקְצֹר. וּבִשְׁעַת הַקָּצִיר הוּא עָנִי. לְפִיכָךְ מֻתָּר בְּלֶקֶט שִׁכְחָה וּפֵאָה. וְאָסוּר בְּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי שֶׁאֵין מַפְרִישִׁין מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי אֶלָּא אַחַר שֶׁקָּצַר וַהֲרֵי זָכָה בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁקָּצַר:

15 If one [poor person] receives a field to harvest, it is forbidden [for him] to take out [in addition to the produce of the field itself] leket, shikhecha, péah, and ma'esar ani [for his own benefit]. When is this? [In the situation where] he receives it and can take part of the whole field's harvest, such as when one gives him a third or a fourth as his wages. But if the owner of the field said to him, "What you can harvest yourself from this one-third is yours," or "What you will harvest from this fourth," then he has nothing until he has harvested it. While he is harvesting, therefore, he is poor, and therefore he may take leket, shikhecha, and péah [for himself], but he is forbidden to take ma'esar ani because they only separate out ma'esar ani after it is all harvested and he has at that point taken possession of his portion that he harvested [and is no longer poor].

טז הַמּוֹכֵר אֶת שָׂדֵהוּ קַרְקַע וּפֵרוֹת וְהֶעֱנִי. הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר בְּלֶקֶט שִׁכְחָה וּפֵאָה וּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי שֶׁלָּהּ. וְהַלּוֹקֵחַ אָסוּר בָּהֶן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא נָתַן דָּמִים. וַאֲפִלּוּ לָוָה הַדָּמִים וּלְקָחָהּ הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר בְּמַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים:

16 If one sells his field, including the land and the produce, and then he becomes poor, he is permitted to take its [the land's] leket, shikhecha, péah, and ma'esar ani. But the purchaser is forbidden to take them [these gifts if he is poor]. Even if he [the purchaser] has not yet been paid and even if he borrowed money [for the purchase], he is still forbidden to take the gifts for the poor.

יז מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי אֵין פּוֹרְעִין מִמֶּנּוּ מִלְוֶה. וְאֵין מְשַׁלְּמִין מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת הַתַּגְמוּלִין. אֲבָל מְשַׁלְּמִין מִמֶּנּוּ דָּבָר שֶׁל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וְצָרִיךְ לְהוֹדִיעוֹ שֶׁהוּא מַעֲשַׂר עָנִי. וְאֵין פּוֹדִין בּוֹ שְׁבוּיִים. וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין בּוֹ שׁוֹשְׁבִינוּת. וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין מִמֶּנּוּ דָּבָר לִצְדָקָה. וְנוֹתְנִין אוֹתוֹ לַחֲבֵר עִיר בְּטוֹבַת הֲנָאָה. וְאֵין מוֹצִיאִין אוֹתוֹ מֵהָאָרֶץ לְחוּץ לָאָרֶץ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יד כח) "וְהִנַּחְתָּ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ" וְנֶאֱמַר (דברים כו יב) "וְאָכְלוּ בִשְׁעָרֶיךָ וְשָׂבֵעוּ":

17 One may not use ma'esar ani to repay a loan, and one may not pay back a favor from it [ ma'esar ani ], but they may pay out of it something for an act of loving kindness so long as he informs him that it comes from ma'esar ani. But they may not use it to redeem captives [by paying their ransom from ma'esar ani ], or buy wedding gifts, or give tzedakah, but they may give it to a town scholar for his benefit. They may not, however, take it from the Land of Israel to outside the Land of Israel, as it is said, (Deut. 14:28) But leave it within your settlements, and it is said, (Deut. 26:12) That they may eat their fill in your settlements [teaching that it must be used within the Land of Israel].

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