Halacha
הלכה א
הַפּוֹדֶה מַעַשְׂרוֹ לְעַצְמוֹ בֵּין שֶׁהוּא שֶׁלּוֹ בֵּין שֶׁנָּפַל לוֹ בִּירֻשָּׁה בֵּין שֶׁנִּתַּן לוֹ בְּטִבְלוֹ מַתָּנָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. הֲרֵי זֶה מוֹסִיף עָלָיו חֹמֶשׁ. אִם הָיָה שָׁוֶה אַרְבָּעָה נוֹתֵן חֲמִשָּׁה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז לא) "וְאִם גָּאל יִגְאַל אִישׁ מִמַּעַשְׂרוֹ חֲמִשִׁיתוֹ יֹסֵף עָלָיו":
כסף משנה
1.
When a man redeems his produce for the second tithe for himself - whether it is from his own crops, he acquired it as an inheritance, or it was given to him while tevel as we explained,1See Chapter 3, Halachah 17. Otherwise, it is forbidden to give the second tithe as a present. he must add a fifth [of the new total].2Although the produce of the second tithe belongs to God, as it were, since the person partakes of it, the Torah considers as his, with regard to the obligation to add a fifth (Bava Kama 69b). [Thus] if it was worth four, he should give five,3This is true in all instances that the Torah requires that a fifth be added. as [Leviticus 27:31] states: "If a man will redeem from his tithes, he shall add a fifth to it."הלכה ב
וְאִשָּׁה שֶׁפָּדָת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁלָּהּ לְעַצְמָהּ אֵינָהּ מוֹסִיפָה חֹמֶשׁ. מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ (ויקרא כז לא) "אִישׁ מִמַּעַשְׂרוֹ" וְלֹא אִשָּׁה. וְכֵן אִם פָּדָה פִּדְיוֹן פֵּרוֹת הַמַּעֲשֵׂר לְעַצְמוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ:
כסף משנה
2.
When a woman redeems produce for the second tithe that she separated, she is not required to add a fifth. According to the Oral Tradition,4Kiddushin 24a. we have learned: "If a man [will redeem from] his tithes," excluding a woman. Similarly, if a man redeems [money used to] redeem produce from the second tithe for himself,5Using it to purchase peace sacrifices or the like. he must add a fifth.הלכה ג
פָּדָה פֵּרוֹת מַעַשְׂרוֹ וְהוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ וְחָזַר וּפָדָה הַפִּדְיוֹן לְעַצְמוֹ פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ שֵׁנִי עַל הַקֶּרֶן בִּלְבַד וְאֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ עַל הַחֹמֶשׁ:
כסף משנה
3.
When a person redeems the produce of his second tithe and adds a fifth, and then redeems the money itself a second time, he must add a second fifth of the principal alone. He need not add a fifth for the original fifth.6For example, if the produce was worth 4, the person redeeming it must originally pay 5 and then, if he must pay an additional 1. He need not pay an additional 1.2.הלכה ד
מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁאֵין בְּחֻמְשׁוֹ שְׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה אֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף עָלָיו חֹמֶשׁ. וְכֵן מַעֲשֵׂר שֶׁאֵין דָּמָיו יְדוּעִין דַּיּוֹ שֶׁיֹּאמַר הוּא וְחֻמְשׁוֹ מְחֻלָּל עַל הַסֶּלַע הַזֶּה. וְכָל מַעֲשֵׂר שֶׁהוּא אֵינוֹ פּוֹדֵהוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ אֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ. וּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁל דְּמַאי אֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף עָלָיו חֹמֶשׁ:
כסף משנה
4.
When the fifth of the produce of the second tithe is not worth a p'rutah, [the person redeeming it] need not add a fifth.7Because anything less than a fifth is not considered as financially significant. According to the Rambam, he must, however, redeem the produce. Rashi (Bava Metzia 54b), by contrast, maintains that it need not be redeemed at all. Similarly, when the worth of the produce of the second tithe is unknown,8The Radbaz distinguishes between this instance and Chapter 4, Halachah 20, which states that when the value of produce is unknown, it should be assessed by three experts, explaining that that halachah is speaking about an instance where the produce has genuine worth, but it can only be determined by experts, not a common person. This halachah, by contrast, is speaking about an instance where its worth is not known at all. it is sufficient for him to say: "The holiness of the produce and its fifth are transferred to this sela."9This is acceptable, for as mentioned above, after the fact, the transfer of holiness from produce to money is acceptable even if the money is not of equal worth as the produce. Whenever a person does not redeem produce from the second tithe with his own money, he need not add a fifth.10The Jerusalem Talmud (ma'aser Sheni 4:3) derives this concept from the exegesis of Leviticus 27:31. [When one redeems] produce from the second tithe that is demai, he need not add a fifth.11Since the obligation to redeem the second tithe of demai is merely Rabbinic in origin, this added stringency was not imposed.הלכה ה
הַפּוֹדֶה מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וְהָיָה לוֹ מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אַחֵר שֶׁלֹּא נִפְדָּה. אִם אֵין בְּחֻמְשׁוֹ שְׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה דַּיּוֹ שֶׁיֹּאמַר הוּא וְחֻמְשׁוֹ מְחֻלָּל עַל מָעוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת לְפִי שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְאָדָם לְצַמְצֵם אֶת מְעוֹתָיו:
כסף משנה
5.
When a person is redeeming produce of the second tithe and he has other produce from the second tithe that was not redeemed whose fifth is not worth a p'rutah, it is sufficient for him to say: "The holiness of it and its fifth are transferred to the money [set aside] originally."12The reason why it is acceptable to use the money used to redeem other produce is explained in the following halachah and notes. This leniency is granted because the obligation to set aside the second tithe from such produce is Rabbinic in origin as stated in Chapter 2, Halachah 9. We grant him this leniency rather than require him to bring that produce to Jerusalem or to wait until he has enough other produce so that the fifth will be worth a p'rutah [Rashi (Bava Metzia 53b)]. [This leniency is granted,] because it is impossible to require a person to be precise with his money.13And we assume that, as a safeguard, a person will be somewhat generous in the money he sets aside in redemption of the second tithe, setting aside a little more than the worth of the produce. The holiness of the produce whose fifth is worth less than a p'rutah is transferred to that extra amount (ibid.; Radbaz).הלכה ו
הַפּוֹדֶה מַעֲשֵׂר בְּיוֹתֵר עַל דָּמָיו לֹא נִתְפְּסָה הַתּוֹסֶפֶת לַמַעֲשֵׂר:
כסף משנה
6.
When a person redeems produce from the second tithe for more than its worth, that additional value is not considered as money from the second tithe.14In contrast, when a person redeems consecrated money for more than its worth, the extra amount is considered as consecrated [the Jerusalem Talmud (Ma'aser Sheni 4:3)].הלכה ז
בַּעַל הַבַּיִת אוֹמֵר בְּסֶלַע וְאַחֵר אוֹמֵר בְּסֶלַע. בַּעַל הַבַּיִת קֹדֶם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ. בַּעַל הַבַּיִת אוֹמֵר בְּסֶלַע וְאַחֵר אוֹמֵר בְּסֶלַע וּפְרוּטָה. הָאַחֵר קֹדֶם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמּוֹסִיף עַל הַקֶּרֶן:
כסף משנה
7.
When the owner of the produce bids a sela to redeem it and another person also bids a sela, the owner is given precedence, because he is required to add a fifth. If, however, the owner bids a sela and another person bids a sela and a p'rutah, that other person is given precedence, because he increases the principal.15In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Ma'aser Sheni 4:3; based on the Jerusalem Talmud), the Rambam explains that an increase in the principal is favored over a lesser amount of principal but a greater total, because there are "guileful" means to avoid paying the additional fifth as will be explained.הלכה ח
מֻתָּר לְהַעֲרִים עַל פִּדְיוֹן מַעַשְׂרוֹ. כֵּיצַד. אוֹמֵר לִבְנוֹ וּלְבִתּוֹ הַגְּדוֹלִים וּלְעַבְדּוֹ הָעִבְרִי הֵא לְךָ אֶת הַמָּעוֹת הָאֵלּוּ וּפְדֵה לְךָ בָּהֶן הַמַּעֲשֵׂר כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ. אֲבָל לֹא יֹאמַר לוֹ פְּדֵה לִי בָּהֶן. וְכֵן אִם אָמַר לוֹ פְּדֵה לִי מִשֶּׁלְּךָ אֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ:
כסף משנה
8.
It is permitted to act "guilefully" with regard to the redemption of produce of the second tithe.16I.e., the intent of the person's "guile" is to avoid paying the additional fifth. What is implied? A person may tell his son or daughter who are beyond majority or his Hebrew servant:17All three of these individuals have an independent financial capacity. Hence, they are not considered as acting on behalf of the owner. "Here is this money. Use it to redeem this produce from the second tithe," so that they will not have to add a fifth. He should not say, however: "Use them to redeem it for me."18For then it appears that they are acting on his behalf. Similarly, he is not required to add a fifth if he tells them: "Redeem it for me using your money."19For then the other people are considered as acting on their own initiative, even though he gave them instructions. This applies even if the owner of the produce gives the other person an equivalent amount of money, but that person does not use it to redeem the produce.הלכה ט
אֲבָל לֹא יִתֵּן הַמָּעוֹת לִפְדּוֹת לִבְנוֹ וּלְבִתּוֹ הַקְּטַנִּים וּלְעַבְדּוֹ וְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הַכְּנַעֲנִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיָּדָן כְּיָדוֹ. נָתַן לְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הָעִבְרִיָּה אִם מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי זֶה מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיָה מֵעָצִיץ שֶׁאֵינוֹ נָקוּב דְּבָרָיו קַיָּמִין. שֶׁאָמָה הָעִבְרִיָּה קְטַנָּה הִיא וְאֵין הַקָּטָן זוֹכֶה לַאֲחֵרִים אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁהוּא מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם:
כסף משנה
9.
He should not, however, give money to redeem [the produce] to one of his sons or daughters who are below majority20As indicated by Hilchot Terumah 4:5, this is speaking about an instance where the child has reached the age when his vows are significant. In such an instance, his actions are effective even with regard to matters of Scriptural Law. or to his Canaanite servants or maid-servants, because they do not have an independent financial capacity.21See Hilchot Avadim 5:3, et al. If he gave the money to his Hebrew maidservant,22In this instance, she will ultimately have an independent financial capacity when she comes of age. Nevertheless, at present, because she is a minor, she can act on behalf of others only with regard to matters of Rabbinic Law. his words are effective if [the obligation to separate] the second tithe from this produce is Rabbinic in origin, e.g., produce grew in a flowerpot without a hole.23See Hilchot Terumah 5:14-16. [The rationale is that] a Hebrew maidservant is a minor and a minor can acquire property for others only with regard to matters of Rabbinic Law.24See Hilchot Lulav 8:10 and Hilchot Zechiyah UMatanah 4:7 which explain that a minor can acquire for his or her self, but cannot do so on behalf of another person.הלכה י
וְכֵן מַעֲרִים וְנוֹתֵן הַמַּעֲשֵׂר מַתָּנָה כְּשֶׁהוּא בְּטִבְלוֹ. וְאוֹמֵר הַנּוֹתֵן הֲרֵי הַפֵּרוֹת הָאֵלּוּ מְחֻלָּלִין עַל מָעוֹת שֶׁבַּבַּיִת:
כסף משנה
10.
Similarly, a person may act with guile and give produce from the second tithe as a present while it is still tevel25Once, however, the second tithe has been separated, it cannot be given as a present - except to be eaten immediately thereafter - for it is considered as "the property of the Most High." Hence, the person who "owns" it on the earthly plane does not have the authority to give it to someone else (Chapter 3, Halachah 17, and Halachah 1 of the present chapter). and while giving it say: "The holiness from [the second tithe of] this produce is transferred to the money I have at home."26In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Ma'aser Sheni 4:5), the Rambam explains that here also the owner desires to redeem the produce without paying the additional fifth. Nevertheless, we are speaking about an instance where he is in his field and does not have money at hand. Hence, none of the techniques mentioned in Halachah 8 are effective. What can he do? He can give the produce to another person and redeem it for him. Thus the produce is being redeemed by a person other than its owner at that time. Hence a fifth need not be added.הלכה יא
שְׁנֵי אַחִין אוֹ שְׁנֵי שֻׁתָּפִין [אָב וּבְנוֹ] פּוֹדִין זֶה לָזֶה מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ. אִשָּׁה שֶׁהִכְנִיסָה לְבַעְלָהּ מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי הוֹאִיל וְהוּא מָמוֹן גָּבוֹהַּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ לֹא קָנָה בַּעַל. לְפִיכָךְ אִם פָּדָהוּ אֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ:
כסף משנה
11.
Two brothers,27I.e., even if they are partners in other matters. As Chasdei David emphasizes, this leniency does not, however, apply to the redemption of produce which is owned in partnership. two partners, a father and his son, may redeem produce from the second tithe for each other so that they will not have to add a fifth. When a woman brings produce from the second tithe to her husband's home,28When a woman marries, all of the property she owns is given to her husband to use. On the other hand, as the Rambam continues to explain, she is not the owner of the produce of the second tithe and hence, her husband also does not become its owner. the husband does not acquire it as his own, since it belongs to the Most High, as we explained.29Chapter 3, Halachah 17. Therefore, if he redeems it,30With his own money. As mentioned in Halachah 2, a woman is never required to add a fifth when redeeming produce for herself. If, however, she redeems produce for her husband with her own money, she is required to add a fifth (Radbaz). he need not add a fifth.הלכה יב
הַפּוֹדֶה מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי לְעַצְמוֹ וְנָתַן אֶת הַקֶּרֶן וְלֹא נָתַן אֶת הַחֹמֶשׁ. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַחֹמֶשׁ מְעַכֵּב וַהֲרֵי נִתְחַלֵּל לֹא יֹאכַל עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן הַחֹמֶשׁ וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא יִפְשַׁע וְלֹא יִתֵּן:
כסף משנה
12.
A person who redeems produce from the second tithe for himself, who paid the principal, but did not pay the additional fifth, should not partake of [the produce] until he pays the fifth. [This applies] even on the Sabbath.31In which instance, it is a mitzvah to delight in food and drink. [And it applies] even though the payment of the fifth does not hold back the transfer of holiness [from the produce to the coins]. Indeed, that transfer takes place. [This restriction is] a decree, lest the person be negligent and fail to pay.הלכה יג
מָעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אִם רָצָה לְצָרְפָם בְּדִינְרֵי זָהָב כְּדֵי לְהָקֵל מַשָּׂאָן מְצָרְפָן. וְאִם צֵרְפָן לְעַצְמוֹ אֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ שֶׁאֵין זֶה דֶּרֶךְ פְּדִיָּה:
כסף משנה
13.
If a person desires to exchange money from the redemption of the second tithe for golden dinarim,32As mentioned above, the second tithe must be redeemed with silver. Now gold is much more valuable than silver so that by exchanging the silver for gold, the person will be lightening his load considerably.See Ma'aser Sheni 2:7 which states that Rabbi Akiva made such a transfer on behalf of Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua. so that his burden will be lighter,33As stated in Chapter 4, Halachah 5, generally, a person cannot transfer the holiness of money of the second tithe to other money, in this and the following halachah, exceptions are made for they are to the benefit of the second tithe: making the money easier to transport and to use. he may. Even34The addition of this word is based on the gloss of the Radbaz. if he exchanged [the two] with his own money, he need not add a fifth, for this is not considered as redemption.
הלכה יד
הַפּוֹרֵט סֶלַע מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי בֵּין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם בֵּין חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם לֹא יְצָרְפֶנָּה כֻּלָּהּ בְּמָעוֹת נְחשֶׁת אֶלָּא בְּשֶׁקֶל מָעוֹת כֶּסֶף וּבְשֶׁקֶל מָעוֹת נְחשֶׁת:
כסף משנה
14.
When a person exchanges a sela of money35I.e., a sela is a coin of relatively large value. It is easier to shop for food with smaller coins. See the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Ma'aser Sheni 2:9). from the second tithe - whether in Jerusalem or outside the city - he should not exchange it entirely for brass coins. Instead, it should be divided into a shekel's worth of silver coins and a shekel's worth of brass coins.הלכה טו
מֻתָּר לְחַלֵּל כֶּסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר עִם פֵּרוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר עַל הַכֶּסֶף וְהוּא שֶׁיְּהוּ בַּפֵּרוֹת פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה דִּינָר. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה בָּהֶן שְׁוֵה דִּינָר לֹא יְחַלְּלֵם עִם הַכֶּסֶף אֶלָּא בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן. כֵּיצַד. הָיוּ לוֹ פֵּרוֹת שְׁוֵה דִּינָר וּשְׁלֹשָׁה דִּינָרִין שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אֵינוֹ מְחַלֵּל הַכּל עַל סֶלַע אַחַת. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה לוֹ חֲצִי דִּינָר פֵּרוֹת וַחֲצִי דִּינָר מָעוֹת מְחַלֵּל שְׁנֵיהֶם עַל דִּינָר אֶחָד:
כסף משנה