Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day

Fruits that we can assume to be ownerless:1 e.g., wild figs,2 brush berries, thorn apples, white figs, other species of wild figs, anise, dates that fall of the tree before they have swelled,3 capers, coriander, and the like are free from the stringency of demai. One who purchases them from a common person does not have to separate terumat ma'aser or the second tithe from them for we assume that they grew ownerless. Even if a common person told him that they have not been tithed, they are exempt from the tithes until it is known that they grew from produce that was guarded.4

Produce that ripens first and last in a valley are exempt from the obligations of demai.5 Similar produce in a garden is liable, because it is watched.

What is meant by produce that ripens first? All the produce that ripens before [the owner] employs a guard for the valley to protect his produce.

What is meant by produce that ripens last? The produce that remains after the reapers have folded away their nets6 in the field and left them without a guard. Similarly, vinegar made from wine dregs7 is exempt from the obligations of demai.8

When decrees were enacted concerning demai, they were enacted only with regard to produce from the land that was inhabited by the Jews who returned from Babylonia,9 i.e., from Kziv inward.10 Kziv itself is considered as outside these boundaries. All produce from Kziv and further are exempt from the obligations of demai for we operate under the assumption that the produce came from the place where it is found.11

When we know12 that produce was grown in the land that was inhabited by the Jews who ascended from Babylonia, the laws of demai apply with regard to it even though it is presently found in Syria or in the land that was inhabited only by the Jews who ascended from Egypt. [Thus] terumat ma'aser and the second tithe must be separated from it.

Therefore a fat fig whose species is found only in the land inhabited by the Jews who ascended from Babylon - and similarly, large dates, straight carobs,13 rice that is exceedingly white, and oversized cumin14 - must be tithed like demai in the entirety of Eretz Yisrael and in Syria. Similar laws apply with regard to all produce that is comparable to these species.

When donkey-drivers bring produce to Tyre,15 the laws governing demai apply to it, for we assume that it came from the nearby land inhabited by the Jews who ascended from Babylonia.16 We do not harbor any suspicions with regard to rice. Instead, all the rice that is found in the Diaspora that neighbors the land which was inhabited by the Jews who ascended from Babylonia is exempt17 from demai unless it was obvious that it grew [only in Eretz Yisrael] as we explained.18

When a person purchases [produce] from the owners of storehouses in Tyre, he is exempt from [the obligations of] demai. We do not say that they stored produce from Eretz Yisrael.19 Similarly, if one donkey20 enters Tyre laden with produce, it is exempt from [the obligations of] demai, for we assume that [the produce comes] from the fields around the city.

When a person purchases [produce] from the owners of storehouses in Tzidon,21 he is obligated in [the laws of] demai, because it is closer to Eretz Yisrael than Tyre and we operate under the assumption that they store produce from the land inhabited by the Jews who ascended from Babylonia. If, however, one purchases [produce] from donkey-drivers in Tzidon, it is exempt from [the obligations of] demai, for we assume that they are bringing [the produce] from the Diaspora.22

[The following rules apply when a person] purchases [produce] from a gentile in the land inhabited by the Jews who ascended from Babylonia. If the gentile was a merchant23 who purchases produce from Jews, the produce is [considered as] demai. Therefore at the outset, when the majority of Eretz Yisrael was in the hands of Jews,24 when a person purchased produce from a gentile merchant, he would separate tithes as one does for demai just like one does when [purchasing] from a [Jewish] common person.

Who is a merchant? One who brings [produce to the market] two or three times. If, however, he brings once - even if he brings three loads at once, or even if he, his son, and his servant each brings loads - he is not presumed to be a merchant.25

When [our Sages] issued a decree concerning demai, the decree did not apply to produce from the Diaspora that was brought into Eretz Yisrael.26

When the majority of the produce [in a mixture] is from Eretz Yisrael and not from the Diaspora, [the laws of] demai apply.27 If the majority of the mixture is produce from the Diaspora, it is exempt from demai. [This law applies] also to species that we can presume that most frequently come from the Diaspora, e.g., nuts and plums.28

[When there was a doubt whether] produce came from the Diaspora or not, our Sages [maintained that the ruling] is not dependent on the appearance [of the produce], its flavor, or its fragrance,29 but rather where the majority [of produce in the marketplace originated]. If produce [from the Diaspora] constitutes the majority, it is permitted.30 If not, it is forbidden.

What is implied? When there is a majority [of produce from the Diaspora] in a city, but not in its outlying areas, or in the outlying areas31 and not in the city, in the mountain, but not in the valley, in the valley, but not in the mountain, for a storekeeper, but not for a private homeowner, for a private homeowner and not for a storekeeper, for those where [produce from the Diaspora] is the majority, they are permitted.32 For those where it is not in the majority, they are obligated [to heed the restrictions of] demai.

If, at first, there was a majority of produce from the Diaspora in the market place and then, that quantity was reduced, the market place returns to its original status, and one who purchases [produce] is obligated in [the restrictions of] demai.

At the time the decree concerning demai was issued, it was not applied in the following situations. All of the [following] instances are exempt from the obligations of demai: One who purchases: produce for seed or as animal fodder, flour for the processing of hides33 or for a compress or a bandage, oil to kindle a lamp or to apply to utensils, wine for an eye ointment.34 [This ruling also applies to] challah separated by a common person,35 a mixture of terumah and ordinary produce,36 produce purchased with money from the second tithes,37 flour left over from a meal offering,38 and produce added to the bikkurim offerings.39 If a common person tells him that the appropriate separations have been made, there is no obligation to tithe it.40

When a person purchases produce to eat and changed his mind and thought to use it as animal fodder, he should not sell them to a gentile41 or feed them to an animal - even an animal belonging to others - until he makes the separations associated with demai.42

Fragrant oil43 is exempt from [the obligations of] demai for we assume it will not be eaten. When a comber of wool purchases oil to put it in the wool,44 it is exempt from [the obligations of] demai, because it is absorbed by the wool.45 When, however, a weaver purchases oil to apply between his fingers,46 it is obligated in [the laws of] demai. The rationale is that it is absorbed in his body and the application of oil is considered as drinking in all instances.47

When a gentile asks a Jew to place oil on his wound,48 he is forbidden to use oil from which he is certain the appropriate separations have not been made. He is, however, permitted to use demai for this purpose.49 If a gentile places oil50 on a tablet to twist around,51 after he arises, it is permitted for a Jew to sit on it afterwards.52

When oil that is demai falls on a person's flesh, he may rub it without concern.53 When a person purchases wine for fishbrine or a mixture of wine and water or legumes to crush and mix with honey, he is obligated in the restrictions of demai.54 If, however, he purchased fishbrine that contains wine, a mixture of wine and oil, or a mixture of crushed legumes and honey, he is exempt from the restrictions of demai, for [our Sages] did not apply their decree to a mixture of demai and other substances. If the entity that was demai that became mixed with other substances was something like spices or yeast,55 since its flavor is evident, the restrictions involving demai must be observed for the entire mixture.

In all those situations where one is exempt from demai because [our Sages] did not apply their decree in these instances, if one corrected [the produce as one does] demai, separating terumat ma'aser and the second tithe, his actions are considered of consequence.56 If, however, he sought to correct [produce that is] demai like one does produce from which we are certain that no separations were made,57 separating the great terumah and the tithes from it58 or he sought to correct produce from which we are certain that no separations were made by making separations like one does demai, his deeds are of no consequence.59

[The following laws apply when] all [of the individuals in] a town sell produce that is definitely [tevel], one person sells demai , and one purchases [produce] from a person without knowing from whom he purchased. How should he correct the produce?60 He should separate terumah and terumat ma'aser and give it to the priest. And then he should separate the second tithe and it is considered as the second tithe of demai.

Similar [concepts apply] if there were two containers [of produce] before a person: one containing tevel and one containing produce from which the separations were made. If one of them is lost,61 one must separate terumah and terumat ma'aser from the other one and give it to any priest he desires. And he should separate the second tithe and it is considered as the second tithe of demai.62

When a person purchases [produce] from a wholesaler and then purchases [produce] from him a second time, he should not separate tithes from one batch for another. [This applies] even if they are of one species, and even from one container, and even if he himself recognized the barrel [from which the produce was taken].1 [The rationale is that] a wholesaler purchases from many different people and sells [it]. Perhaps the produce he first sold was from a common person whose produce is demai2 and the batch he sold later was from a chavair who made the appropriate separations. As we already explained,3 we do not separate tithes from produce that is obligated to be tithed for produce that is exempt or from produce that is exempt for produce that is obligated. If the wholesaler said that [both batches] are from one person, we rely on his word.4

When [a wholesaler] sells hops or vegetables and they are being brought and collected before him, a purchaser should tithe each bunch of hops, each bundle [of vegetables], and each date individually.5

When a person purchases [produce] from a private individual and then purchases [the same species] from him a second time, he may separate the tithes from one batch for the other.6 [This applies] even when he purchases [produce] from two containers, and even from two cities. [The rationale is that] we operate under the presumption that a private person sells only his own produce.

[Different rules apply when] a private person sells vegetables in the market place. When [produce] is brought to him from his gardens, [a purchaser] may tithe from one batch for the entire quantity. If, however, he is also brought [produce] from other gardens, should one purchase a batch from him and then purchase a second batch, he should not tithe from one for the other.7

When a person purchases bread from a baker, he should not tithe from the warm bread for the cool bread, for one might say that the wheat [used for] yesterday's [bread] was from one person and that [used] for today's is from another.8

When a person purchases [bread] from a bakery9 he may tithe from one loaf for all the others even if [the loaves] are from different molds. For a baker who sells to a bakery10 bakes his dough in different molds. If, however, one purchases [bread] from a distributor, one should tithe each mold individually,11 for a distributor purchases from two [or more] bakers.

When nine distributors purchase [bread] from ten bakers, since one of them purchases from two [bakers], anyone who purchases [bread] from one of the nine must tithe each mold individually.12

When a person purchases [bread] from a poor person and similarly, if a poor person was given13 slices of bread or slices of a cake of dried figs, he should tithe each one individually. For dates and dried figs, he should group the entire quantity together and tithe them.

When does the above apply? When he was given a large present.14 If he was given a small present, he should tithe each present individually.15

If a person ground a loaf of bread [into] crumbs or ground dried figs and made them into a cake,16 he should separate tithes for the entire quantity.

When workers or guests were reclining and eating and they left over slices [of bread], one should tithe each one individually.17

Blessed be the Merciful One who grants assistance.

Introduction to Hilchos Maaser Sheini

They contain nine mitzvot: three positive commandments and six negative commandments. They are:

1) To separate the second tithe;
2) Not to use the proceeds [from its redemption] for any other human needs aside from eating, drinking, or anointing oneself;
3) Not to partake [of the second tithe] in a state of ritual impurity;
4) Not to partake [of the second tithe] while in mourning;
5) Not to partake of the second tithe of grain while outside Jerusalem;
6) Not to partake of the second tithe of wine while outside Jerusalem;
7) Not to partake of the second tithe of olive oil while outside Jerusalem;
8) For the entire crop of the fourth year to be consecrated; the requirement is that it must be eaten in Jerusalem by its owners according to all the particulars that apply to the second tithe;
9) To make the declaration associated with the giving of the tithes.

These mitzvot are explained in the ensuing chapters.

After1 separating the first tithe every year, we separate the second tithe,2as [Deuteronomy 14:22] states: "You shall certainly tithe the produce of your crops."3 In the third and sixth years [of the seven year agricultural cycle], we separate the tithe for the poor instead of the second tithe, as we explained.4

The first of Tishrei is the beginning of the year with regard to the reckoning of the tithes5 for grain, legumes,6 and vegetables. Whenever the term Rosh HaShanah is used [with regard to crops], the intent is the first of Tishrei. The fifteenth of Shvat is the beginning of the year with regard to reckoning the tithes for fruit-trees.

What is implied? If grain or legumes7 reach "the phase of tithing"8 before Rosh HaShanah of the third year,9 the second tithe should be separated from them even though they became fully developed and were gathered in the third year. If, however, they did not reach "the phase of tithing" until after Rosh HaShanah of the third year,10 the tithe for the poor should be separated from them. Similarly, if fruit from trees reaches "the phase of tithing" before the fifteenth of Shvat in the third year, it should be tithed according to the previous year and the second tithe should be separated from it even though it became fully developed and was gathered at the end of the third year. Similarly, if it reaches "the phase of tithing" before the fifteenth of Shvat in the fourth year, the tithe for the poor should be separated from it even though it became fully developed and was gathered at the end of the fourth year. If it reaches "the phase of tithing" after the fifteenth of Shvat, it should be tithed like the produce of the coming year.

Even though the fruit of carob trees begin to ripen11 before the fifteenth of Shvat, they should be tithed according to the coming year,12 since [the obligation to] tithe them is of Rabbinic origin.13

It appears to me that this applies only with regard to the carobs that grow in Tzalmona or other similar species that are not fit to be eaten by most people. [Hence,] the obligation to partake of them is Rabbinic in origin.14 It appears to me that other carobs are similar to the rest of the fruit of the trees.15

Vegetables should be tithed according to the year when they are harvested.16 What is implied? If they are harvested on the day of Rosh HaShanah of the third year,17 the tithe for the poor should be separated from them even though they reached "the phase of tithing"18 and [indeed,] fully matured19 in the second year. If they were harvested in the fourth year, the second tithe should be separated from them.

Similarly, among fruit from trees, only an esrog is like a vegetable,20 [i.e., the laws governing it] whether for tithes or the Sabbatical year are dependent on when it is harvested.

What is implied?21 If it was harvested in the third year after the fifteenth of Shvat, the tithe for the poor should be separated from it even though its growth was completed in the second year. Similarly, if it was gathered in the fourth year before the fifteenth of Shvat, the tithe for the poor should be separated from it.22 If it was harvested in the fourth year after the fifteenth of Shvat, the second tithe should be separated from it.

Although the laws governing an esrog depend on when it was reaped, when an esrog that grew23 in the sixth year entered the seventh year, tithes must be separated from it.24 [This applies] even though it was only an olive size [at the beginning of the Sabbatical year] and became the size of a loaf of bread [during that year].

We apply both the stringencies that apply to trees and those that apply to vegetables to caper berries.25 Thus if they grew26 from the second year and then they entered into the third year and were harvested before the fifteenth of Shvat, the first tithe should be separated. Afterwards, another tithe27 should be separated. Afterwards, it should be redeemed28 and then given to the poor.29 The proceeds of the redemption [should be used to purchase food that] is eaten according to the laws of the second tithe. Thus it is as if he separated both the second tithe and the tithe for the poor.

With regard to rice, millet,30 poppy seed, and sesame seeds, even if the plants took root before Rosh HaShanah, we are concerned only with the completion of [the maturity of] the fruit and thus the tithes are separated as is the produce of the coming year. Similarly, with regard to Egyptian beans, even though a portion of the crop took root before Rosh HaShanah and a portion afterwards, he should gather the entire crop together31 and separate terumah and tithes from the entire crop as one. For everything depends on the produce reaching maturity.32

When one withheld water from onions that do not produce sprouts33 for 30 days or when one withheld water from onions that are irrigated from three periods34 before Rosh HaShanah, they should be tithed as produce of the previous year.35 If water was withheld from them for less than this - and thus they began to dry up before Rosh HaShanah36 - they should be tithed like produce of the coming year.

[The following rules apply when] Egyptian beans reached a third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah. If they were sown to produce seed,37 they should be tithed as produce of the previous year.38 If they were sown to produce vegetables,39 they should be tithed as produce of the coming year.40 If they were sown to produce seed and vegetables or they were sown to produce seed and then [the owner changed his mind and] thought to use them for vegetables [as well], he should tithe from the seeds for the vegetables and from the vegetables as seeds.41

[Different rules apply if the beans] did not reach one third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah. If they were sown to produce seed, they should be tithed as produce of the previous year, but the vegetables that grow should be tithed as they are harvested, provided they are harvested before Rosh HaShanah.42 If they were harvested after Rosh HaShanah, both the vegetables and the seeds should be tithed as produce of the coming year.43

If they were sown to produce seed and then [the owner changed his mind and] thought to use them for vegetables [only], the ruling follows his thought.44 If they were sown to produce vegetables and then [the owner changed his mind and] thought to use them for seed, the thought to use it as seed has no effect on the ruling unless he withholds water from it for three periods45 when [the plants] would be ordinarily be watered,46 and [then,] only when [the plants] reached a third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah.47

[They are, however, governed by different rules] if they did not reach a third of their growth before Rosh HaShanah even though he withheld water from it for three periods when [the plants] would be ordinarily be watered.48 If he sowed it for the purpose of seed and the entire crop grew into fully grown plants before Rosh HaShanah, the seed is tithed as produce of the previous year49 and the vegetables are tithed according to when they are harvested.50 If some of the plants reached their full growth and some did not, to this situation, we apply our Sages' statement:51 "He should gather the entire crop together." [Thus he should separate tithes from the entire crop as one,] separating tithes from the seed for the vegetables and from the vegetables as seed.52

When produce from the second year becomes mixed with produce from the third year or produce from the third year becomes mixed with that of the fourth year, we follow the majority.53 If it is half and half, we separate the second tithe from the entire quantity, but not the tithe for the poor.54 [The rationale is that] the second tithe is a more severe obligation, because it is sacred,55 while the tithe for the poor is ordinary produce. Similarly, when there is a doubt whether produce is from the second year or from the third year, the second tithe should be separated from it.

Whenever [produce] is exempt from the first tithe, it is also exempt from the second tithe and the tithe for the poor.56 Whenever produce is obligated in the first tithe, it is also obligated in these two. All of the individuals who may separate terumah may also separate [these] tithes and those who are not entitled to separate terumah may not separate these tithes. When any of the individuals with regard to whom it is said that [they should not separate terumah,] but if they separate terumah, the separation is effective57 separate these tithes, their separation is effective. When any of the individuals with regard to whom it is said that their separation of terumah is ineffective58 separate these tithes, their separation is ineffective.

When a person separated the first tithe from produce before the obligation to tithe was established,59 he may snack from it before separating the second tithe. For [separating] the first [tithe] does not create an obligation to separate the second. If, however, an obligation to tithe was established, it is forbidden to snack from it until he separates the second tithe or the tithe for the poor even though he has already separated the first tithe.60

Since the second tithe must be brought [to Jerusalem],61 it should not be brought from the Diaspora,62 like the firstborn of animals.63 For this reason, our Sages did not obligate the separation of the second tithe in Syria.64

It appears to me that the second tithe that is separated in Babylonia and in Egypt65 should be redeemed and the proceeds taken to Jerusalem. Similarly, it appears to me that the obligation to separate the second tithe in these places was established only so that there would be an obligation to separate the tithe for the poor, so that the poor of the Jewish people could rely on it.66