Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day - Daily Torah Study

1What are the funds in terumat halishcah1 used for? From these funds they would purchase the daily offerings sacrificed every day, the additional offerings sacrificed on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh and festivals, all other communal sacrifices, and the wine libations that accompany them.אתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה מַה יֵעָשֶׂה בָּהּ? לוֹקְחִין מִמֶּנָּה תְּמִידִין שֶׁל כָּל יוֹם, וְהַמּוּסָפִין, וְכָל קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם.

Similarly, these funds were used to purchase the salt that was placed on all the sacrifices, and similarly, the wood for the altar, if no wood was provided and it was necessary that it be purchased.וְהַמֶּלַח שֶׁמּוֹלְחִין בּוֹ כָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. וְכֵן הָעֵצִים, אִם לֹא הֵבִיאוּ עֵצִים וְלֹא מָצְאוּ אֶלָא בְּדָמִים.

They were used to pay for spices contained in the incense offering and the wages of those who prepared it, the showbread and the wages of those who prepared it, the omer of barley, the two loaves, a red heifer, the goat sent to Azazel and the scarlet thread tied between its horns.וְהַקְּטֹרֶת וּשְׂכַר עוֹשֶׂיהָ, וְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים וּשְׂכַר עוֹשֵׂי לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים, וְהָעֹמֶר, וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם, וּפָרָה אֲדֻמָּה, וְשָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ וְלָשׁוֹן שֶׁל זְהוֹרִית שֶׁקּוֹשְׁרִין בֵּין קְרָנָיו. כָּל אֵלּוּ, בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

2In contrast, the funds to purchase a bull brought as a sin offering for a transgression performed by the community due to lack of awareness, and the goats offered by the community for transgressing the prohibition against the worship of false divinities should be collected from communal donations, and should not be purchased with the funds of terumat halishcah.באֲבָל פַּר הֶעְלֵם דָּבָר שֶׁל צִּבּוּר, וּשְׂעִירֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה - בַּתְּחִלָּה גּוֹבִין לָהֶן, וְאֵינָן בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

The curtains before the Sanctuary replaced a permanent structure. Therefore, they should not be purchased with the funds of terumat halishcah, but rather with funds that were consecrated for bedek habayit “the upkeep of the Temple”. The curtains covering the gates, by contrast, should be purchased with the funds of terumat halishcah.פָּרוֹכוֹת שֶׁל הֵיכָל תַּחַת בִּנְיָן עֲשׂוּיוֹת, וְאֵינָן בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה אֶלָא מִקָּדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת; אֲבָל פָּרוֹכוֹת שֶׁל שְּׁעָרִים, בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

It is ordained that the funds necessary to fashion the menorah and the other sacred articles should come from the funds stemming from the remainder of the libations.הַמְּנוֹרָה וּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת, מִצְוָתָן שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ מִמּוֹתַר הַנְּסָכִים.

In Hilchot Klei HaMikdash V’Ha’ovdim Bo (the “Laws Governing the Temple Vessels “), the term “the funds stemming from the remainder of the libations” will be explained.וּבְהִלְכוֹת כְּלֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהָעוֹבְדִים בּוֹ, יִתְבָּאֵר מַה הוּא מוֹתַר הַנְּסָכִים.

If, however, no such funds are available, the funds necessary for these sacred articles should come from terumat halishcah.וְאִם לֹא הָיָה לָהֶן מוֹתַר נְסָכִים, יָבוֹאוּ מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

The funds necessary to fashion the priestly garments, those of the High Priest and those of all the other priests who serve in the Temple should come from terumat halishcah.בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה - בֵּין בִּגְדֵי כּוֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, בֵּין שְׁאָר בִּגְדֵי כָּל הַכּוֹהֲנִים שֶׁעוֹבְדִין בָּהֶן בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ - הַכֹּל מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

3All the animals that are found in Jerusalem or its outskirts should be sacrificed as burnt offerings, as stated in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim the “Laws Governing Consecrated Property that has been Disqualified.” The wine libations for these offerings should come from terumat halishcah.גכָּל הַבְּהֵמוֹת הַנִּמְצְאוֹת בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, אוֹ חוּצָה לָהּ בְּקָרוֹב מִמֶּנָּה, הַבָּאוֹת עוֹלוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בִּפְסוּלֵי הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁין - נִסְכֵּיהֵן בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

Similarly, if a gentile sent a burnt offering from another land, and did not send with it the funds for a wine libation, the wine libation should come from terumat halishcah.וְכֵן גּוֹי שֶׁשָּׁלַח עוֹלָתוֹ מִמְּדִינָה אַחֶרֶת, וְלֹא שָׁלַח עִמָּהּ דְּמֵי נְסָכִים - יָבִיאוּ נְסָכֶיהָ מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

4The following laws apply when a convert2 dies and leaves animals designated as offerings. If he also designated wine or funds for their wine libations, they should come from what he designated. If not, they should come from terumat halishcah.דגֵּר שֶׁמֵּת וְהִנִּיחַ זְבָחִים: אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ נְסָכִים, קְרֵבִין מִשֶּׁלּוֹ; וְאִם לָאו, בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

When a High Priest dies, and a successor is not appointed immediately, we should pay for the chavitin offering3 from terumat halishcah.כּוֹהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁמֵּת, וְלֹא מִנּוּ אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו - מַקְרִיבִין אֶת הַחֲבִתִּין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

The Rabbis who inspect blemishes on first-born animals in Jerusalem, the Sages who teach the laws of ritual slaughter and the laws of taking a handful from the meal offering, and the women who raise their sons to take part in the offering of the red heifer all receive their wages from terumat halishcah. What would their wages be? An amount decided by the court.מְבַקְּרֵי מוּמִים שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים הַמְּלַמְּדִים הִלְכוֹת שְׁחִיטָה לַכּוֹהֲנִים, וְהַמְּלַמְּדִים לָהֶם הִלְכוֹת קְמִיצָה, וְנָשִׁים הַמְּגַדְּלוֹת בְּנֵיהֶן לְפָרָה אֲדֻמָּה - כֻּלָּן נוֹטְלִין שְׂכָרָן מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. וְכַמָּה הוּא שְׂכָרָן? כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּפְסְקוּ לָהֶן בֵּית דִּין.

5In a Sabbatical year, when the produce of the fields is ownerless, the court hires watchmen to protect some of the produce that grows on its own,4 so that it will be possible to offer the omer of barley on the 16th of Nissan and the two loaves of bread on Shavuot, for these offerings may come only from the new harvest. These watchmen receive their wages from terumat halishcah.הבִּשְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה שֶׁהִיא הֶפְקֵר, שׂוֹכְרִין בֵּית דִּין שׁוֹמְרִין שֶׁיִּשְׁמְרוּ מִקְצַת הַסְּפִיחִים שֶׁצָּמְחוּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּבִיאוּ מֵהֶן הָעֹמֶר וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם, שֶׁאֵינָן בָּאִין אֶלָא מִן הֶחָדָשׁ. וְאֵלּוּ הַשּׁוֹמְרִין, נוֹטְלִין שְׂכָרָן מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

6Should a person volunteer to watch the produce without charge, his offer is not accepted, lest men of force come and take it. To prevent this, the Sages ordained that the watchmen be paid from the funds of the Temple treasury. This will prompt everyone to avoid that place where the guards are posted.ומִי שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב לִשְׁמֹר בְּחִנָּם, אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ - גְּזֵרָה מִשּׁוּם בַּעֲלֵי זְרוֹעַ, שֶׁמָּא יָבוֹאוּ וְיִטְּלוּם מֵהֶן; לְפִיכָךְ תִּקְּנוּ לָהֶם חֲכָמִים שֶׁיִּטְּלוּ שָׂכָר מִן הַלִּשְׁכָּה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפְרְשׁוּ הַכֹּל מֵאוֹתוֹ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁאֵלּוּ שׁוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ.

7Scribes who check Torah scrolls in Jerusalem and judges in Jerusalem who preside over cases of robbery receive their wages from terumat halishcah.זמַגִּיהֵי סְפָרִים שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְדַּיָּנִין שֶׁדָּנִין אֶת הַגַּזְלָנִין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, נוֹטְלִין שְׂכָרָן מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

How much are they paid? Ninety maneh a year.5 If this is not sufficient for their needs, they are given—even against their will—an additional amount sufficient to meet their needs, those of their wives, their children, and the other members of their household.וְכַמָּה הָיוּ נוֹטְלִים? תִּשְׁעִים תִּשְׁעִים מָנֶה בְּכָל שָׁנָה. וְאִם לֹא הִסְפִּיקוּ לָהֶן - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא רָצוּ, מוֹסִיפִין לָהֶן כְּדֵי צָרְכָּן, הֵם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וּבְנֵי בֵּיתָן.

8Both the ramp that was built from the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives, on which the red heifer was led to the Mount of Olives, and the ramp on which the goat sent to Azazel was led outside the city were paid for from sheyarei halishcah.6 Similarly, any improvements necessary for the altar for the burnt offerings, the Temple building, or the Temple courtyards were paid for from the sheyarei halishcah. The water conduit, the walls of Jerusalem, its towers, and all the needs of the city were paid for from the sheyarei halishcah.חכֶּבֶשׁ הָיוּ בּוֹנִין מֵהַר הַבַּיִת לְהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה, שֶׁעָלָיו מוֹצִיאִין פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה, וְכֵן הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין כֶּבֶשׁ שֶׁמּוֹצִיאִין עָלָיו שָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ; וּשְׁנֵיהֶם נַעֲשִׂין מִשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה. וְכֵן מִזְבַּח הָעוֹלָה, וְהַהֵיכָל, וְהָעֲזָרוֹת - בָּאִין מִשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה. אַמַּת הַמַּיִם שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְחוֹמַת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, וְכָל מִגְדְּלוֹתֶיהָ, וְכָל צָרְכֵּי הָעִיר - בָּאִין מִשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

Should a gentile, even a resident alien,7 offer to donate money for these purposes, or to labor in these projects without charge, his offer should be rejected, for Ezra 4:3 states: “It is not for you, together with us, to build the House of our Lord,” and Nechemiah 2:20 states “And you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”וְגוֹי שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב מָעוֹת לַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ אוֹ שֶׁהִתְנַדַּב לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּהֶם בְּחִנָּם - אֵין מְקַבְּלִין מִמֶּנּוּ, וַאֲפִלּוּ גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֹא לָכֶם וָלָנוּ לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לֵאלֹקֵינוּ" (עזרא ד, ג), וְנֶאֱמָר "וְלָכֶם אֵין חֵלֶק וּצְדָקָה וְזִכָּרוֹן בִּירוּשָׁלִָיִם" (נחמיה ב, כ).

9The funds remaining from terumat halishcah and sheyarei halishcah should be used to purchase male animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings. For it is a condition made by the court that all the remaining funds be used for burnt offerings. They are not, however, used to purchase doves for burnt offerings, for doves are never used for communal sacrifices. These burnt offerings that come from the funds remaining from the collection of the shekalim are referred to as “the dessert of the altar.”טמוֹתַר תְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה וּשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה - לוֹקְחִין בּוֹ זְכָרִים, וְיִקְרְבוּ כֻּלָּן עוֹלוֹת; שֶׁתְּנַאי בֵּית דִּין הוּא עַל כָּל הַמּוֹתָרוֹת שֶׁיִּקְרְבוּ עוֹלַת בְּהֵמָה. אֲבָל לֹא עוֹלַת הָעוֹף, שֶׁאֵין בְּקָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר עוֹף. וְאֵלּוּ הָעוֹלוֹת הַבָּאִין מִמּוֹתַר הַשְּׁקָלִים, הֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים קַיִץ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ.

10Should the collection from the half-shekalim not be sufficient to purchase everything necessary for all the communal sacrifices, the funds for whatever is necessary should be taken from the articles consecrated for Bedek HaBayit, the resources consecrated for the purpose of maintaining the Temple structure.ישְׁקָלִים שֶׁלֹּא הִסְפִּיקוּ לָהֶן לְכָל קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר, מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הָרָאוּי לָהֶם מִקָּדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת.

The converse, however, does not apply. When improvements are necessary, but the resources of Bedek HaBayit are lacking, the improvements should not be paid for from funds consecrated for sacrifices for the altar.אֲבָל אֵין בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת מוֹצִיא אֶת הָרָאוּי לוֹ, מִקָּדְשֵׁי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.

11From Rosh Chodesh Nisan onward, the communal offerings should be brought from the new collection of shekalim. If, however, the funds from the new collection have not reached the Temple treasury, funds from the collection of the previous year may be used.יאמִשֶּׁיַּגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן, אֵין מַקְרִיבִין קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר אֶלָא מִתְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה. וְאִם לֹא בָאָה הַחֲדָשָׁה, לוֹקְחִין מִן הַיְּשָׁנָה.

Therefore, the following rule should be applied if there are animals designated for the daily offerings that were purchased from the collection of the previous year when Rosh Chodesh Nisan arrives: They should be redeemed and used for mundane purposes, despite the fact that they are unblemished. The proceeds should be placed in the collection of funds from the previous year that are used to provide “dessert” for the altar. This is possible because the court made a stipulation that should there be no need for any of the animals purchased for the daily offerings, it would be possible to redeem the animals and use them for mundane purposes.לְפִיכָךְ אִם הִגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן, וְיֵשׁ עִמָּהֵֶן בְּהֵמוֹת לַתְּמִידִים מִתְּרוּמָה יְשָׁנָה - פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן וְיוֹצְאִין לְחֻלִּין, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן תְּמִימִין, וְיִפְּלוּ דְּמֵיהֶן לִתְרוּמָה יְשָׁנָה שֶׁמְּקַיְּצִין בָּהּ אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ; שֶׁתְּנַאי בֵּית דִּין הוּא עַל כָּל הַבְּהֵמוֹת שֶׁלּוֹקְחִין לַתְּמִידִין, שֶׁאִם לֹא יִהְיוּ צְרִיכִין לָהֶן, יֵצְאוּ לְחֻלִּין.

12After Rosh Chodesh Nisan arrived, the following procedure would be adhered to concerning the remainder of the incense offering:8 They would transfer the consecrated quality of the incense to the funds designated to be given to the artisans who prepared it as their wages. These funds were then used for “the dessert of the altar,” and the artisans would take the remainder of the incense offering as their wages. Afterwards, they would buy back the incense from the artisans with money from the new collection of shekalim. If the funds from the new collection had not arrived, they would offer the incense purchased with funds from the collection of the previous year.יבוְכָךְ הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין בְּמוֹתַר הַקְּטֹרֶת: מִשֶּׁיַּגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן, מְחַלְּלִין אוֹתוֹ עַל שְׂכַר הָאֻמָּנִין, וְחוֹזְרִין מְעוֹת הַשָּׂכָר לְקֵיץ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְנוֹטְלִין הָאֻמָּנִין מוֹתַר הַקְּטֹרֶת בִּשְׂכָרָן, וְחוֹזְרִין וְלוֹקְחִין אֶת הַקְּטֹרֶת מֵהֶן מִתְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה - כְּדֵי לְהַקְרִיבָהּ מִמְּעוֹת תְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה. וְאִם אֵין לָהֶן תְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה, מַקְטִירִין אוֹתָהּ מִתְּרוּמָה יְשָׁנָה.

Footnotes

As mentioned in Chapter 2, Halachah 4, this term refers to the funds collected from the half-shekalim and placed in the three large baskets. In addition, other funds remained from the half-shekalim in this chamber, and the Temple treasury had other funds from other sources.

I.e., a convert without Jewish heirs. If he has heirs, and similarly for a native-born Jew who dies after having designated animals as offerings, the heirs are required to supply the wine libations.

A meal offering resembling a pancake, brought daily by the High Priest.

Although we are forbidden to plant any crops in the Sabbatical year, the Torah allows us to benefit from the small amount of produce that grows on its own accord from left-over seeds and the like. Our Sages forbade deriving personal benefit from such produce (Hilchot Shemitah 4:1-2); it may, however, be used for a mitzvah. Nevertheless, because the prohibition was only Rabbinic in origin, it was not observed carefully by the entire population. Hence, to ensure that there was a sufficient quantity of grain available for these offerings, it was necessary to hire watchmen.

A maneh was 100 dinarim. As can be derived from Chapter 1, Halachah 3, a dinar was equivalent to the weight of 96 barleycorns of silver.

As stated in Chapter 2, Halachah 4, the sheyarei halishcah, “the remainder within the chamber,” refers to the funds that remain from the collection of shekalim after the coins were placed in the three large baskets.

I.e., a gentile who commits himself to observing the seven universal laws commanded to Noach and his descendants

Every year, 368 measures of incense were prepared, 365 corresponding to the days of a solar year, and three extra measures for the incense offering of the High Priest on Yom Kippur (Keritot 6a). Since an ordinary lunar year has either 353, 354, or 355 days, in every ordinary year there were always several portions of incense remaining.

Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day

Shekalim - Chapter 4

Shekalim - Chapter 4

Test Yourself on Shekalim Chapter 4