Daily Mitzvah

The 145th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the law of ch'ramim, i.e., when a person declares something he owns to be forbidden by saying, "This is cherem," he must give that object to a kohen, because a statement of cherem which is unspecified1 goes to the kohanim. If, however, he specified that it is for G‑d,2 then it goes for the Temple fund (bedek habayis).

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,3 "Any cherem to G‑d which a person declares from among his possessions, whether a human being or an animal [or a hereditary field, cannot be sold or redeemed]."

[The Torah] teaches us that a statement of cherem which is unspecified goes to the kohanim by saying4 [Regarding a field that is released by the jubilee year, "It becomes consecrated to G‑d;] like a field that has been made cherem, it becomes the property of the kohanim."

The details of this mitzvah are explained in the eighth chapter of Erachin and the beginning of Nedarim.

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Erachin, Ch. 8, Mishneh 6. There are two opinions brought regarding cheramim in which one did not specify whether they are for the kohanim or for bedek habayis. One opinion is that they go to bedek habayis and the other (brought here by the Rambam) is that they go to the kohanim.

2.

E.g., by saying, "This is cherem for G‑d."

3.

Lev. 27:28.

4.

Ibid. 27:21.

The 110th prohibition is that we are forbidden from selling — even to the Temple treasurer — objects which have been declared to be cherem.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "Any cherem...cannot be sold."

In the words of the Sifra, " 'It cannot be sold' — [even to] the Temple treasurer."

The cherem referred to is only one which is unspecified.2

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Ibid. 27:28.

2.

Which goes to the kohanim. See P145, above. That which is dedicated to bedek habayis is already in the hands of the Temple treasurer.