Negative Commandment 150 (Digest)
Eating the Second Tithe while Ritually Impure
"Neither have I consumed of it while impure"—Deuteronomy 26:14.
It is forbidden to consume of the Second Tithe while ritually impure – even in Jerusalem – until the produce is "redeemed" [i.e. it is exchanged for money or other, pure, produce].
This prohibition applies whether the individual eating is impure or if the produce itself is impure.
The
150th prohibition is that we are forbidden to consume ma'aser sheni in a state of tumah
— even in Jerusalem
— unless it has been redeemed. This corresponds to the general principle that ma'aser sheni which has become tameh must be redeemed, even in Jerusalem, as explained in
tractate Makos.
The
source of this prohibition is the verse, "I have not consumed in a state of tumah." The Oral Tradition explains [the phrase "in a state of tumah"] — "either when I was tameh and it was tahor, or when I was tahor
and it was tameh."
In
Gemara Makos it is also explained that ma'aser
and bikurim may not be eaten in a
state of tumah; and that one who does
so is punished by lashes. As mentioned above, lashes are given only when this ma'aser is eaten in a state of tumah, in Jerusalem and was not redeemed.
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.
Negative Commandment 151 (Digest)
An "Onen" Eating from the Second Tithe
"I have not eaten of it while an onen"—Deuteronomy 26:14.
An onen [the next of kin of a deceased, in the period before the deceased's burial] may not eat from the Second Tithe—or from any sacrificial offerings.
The
151st prohibition is that we are forbidden from eating ma'aser sheni when in a state of aninus [mourning].
The
source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement, "I have not consumed it while I was in aninus."
In
the words of the Mishneh, "Ma'aser
and bikurim must be brought to Jerusalem; require a
verbal declaration;
and are forbidden to an onein."
This
verse also prohibits an onein from
consuming sacrificial offerings, as written in the Torah, "After such a thing happened to me; if I had
eaten the sin offering today, would it have been right in G‑d's eyes?"
The
details of this mitzvah are explained
in the 8th chapter of Pesachim and
the 2nd chapter of Zevachim.
An
onein who eats sacrificial offerings
or ma'aser sheni is punished by lashes.
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.
Translation of (the unabridged text of) Sefer Hamitzvot by Rabbi Berel Bell, member of the Rabbinical Court of Montreal and director of Teacher Training for the Jewish Learning Institute.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
