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First tithe

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The Maaser Rishon, meaning First Tithe in Hebrew (derived from the word eser, meaning tenth), is the setting aside of one tenth of income and produce each year, as a tithe given to the Levites. The tithe is discussed in the Priestly Code, according to which a tenth of the tithe was required to be turned over to the priests, with the other Levites being given only the remaining part of the tithe.

Tithing was traditionally seen as one of the main mechanisms by which one could obtain desires from God, as well as escape the punishments that would otherwise have been suffered by the wicked in the underworld. According to classical jewish folklore, complying with the tithes would cause rain (beneficial in the dry climate of the Levant), while non-compliance would trigger drought, and hurricanes..

Regulations

The Priestly Code instructs that the tithe should be of corn (in the sense of grain), wine, olive oil, fruit, and cattle. Unlike Heave offerings given to the priests, the Maaser Rishon was not regarded as sacred, and as a result did not have to be ritually pure, neither was it required to be eaten in any particular state. Once received by the Levites, it was regarded simply as ordinary property, and they could pass it on to non-Levites, or sell it, as they wished.

Traditionally tithes were calculated for the produce of each whole year, however Classical and Medieval Rabbinical Literature indicates that there was much debate as to when this tithing year should begin and end. Tithing years had different starts and ends depending on the particular crop in question; land crops began their tithe year on the first of Tishrei - Rosh Hashanah; according to Eleazar Kalir and Simeon bar Yohai the first of Tishri was also the start of the tithe year for cattle, but according to Meir Lublin it was the first of Elul that held this honour. The followers of Hillel argued that the tithe year for fruit from trees began on the fifteenth of Shevat, but the followers of Shammai, his rival, argued that it began on the first of Shevat; the view of Hillel's followers eventually became the majority view and the new year for trees - Tu Bishvat - is now held at the date which they considered appropriate.

Origin and development

In Classical Rabbinical Literature, according to which the entire Torah was principally written by a single author (Moses), the Maaser Rishon is contrasted with the Maaser Ani, and Maaser Sheni, as entirely different tithes from each other, and for this reason gave the tithes the distinct names they possess; these latter tithes, which are mentioned by the Deuteronomic Code, differ by not covering cattle or fruit, and rather than just going to the Levites, are in one case shared among the poor and other charitable destinations, and in the other go to the food producer themselves. According to some secular scholars, the Maaser Ani and Maaser Sheni, when taken together, are a conflicting version of the same single tithe as the Maaser Rishon; the Maaser Ani and Maaser Sheni together being the deuteronomist's version and the Maaser Rishon being the version of the priestly source.

Although such scholars speculate that the deuteronomist is a later author than the priestly source, scholars believe that much of the Deuteronomic Code was a reaction against the regulations introduced by the Priestly Code, and that here it reflects the earlier situation.. In the Book of Ezekiel, which some scholars believe predates the Priestly Code, meaning that according to their view the Priestly Code must post-date the Babylonian Exile, there is no mention whatever of a tithe appointed for the Levites, and in the Deuteronomic Code, though Levites have a share of the Maaser Sheni, their share is seemingly voluntary, and it can alternatively be given to strangers, widows, and/or paternal orphans; in the Priestly Code, however, donation of the tithe to the Levites is compulsory. Of course, if the maaser sheni tithe, also mentioned in Leviticus, were originally different from maaser rishon, there is a more simple explanation for the variation.

The clear differentiation between the Aaronids (the priests) and the other Levites, in the regulations given by the Priestly Code for the Maaser Rishon, is a distinction scholars attribute to the pro-Aaronid political bias of the priestly source; according to the Biblical revisionists' worldview, all Levites can be legitimate priests, which is likely to be why the deuteronomist does not mention a tithe of the tithe (the portion of the tithe which is given to the priests rather than other Levites), since it would be somewhat meaningless.. On the other hand, it raises a question about the distinction between maaser and terumah. In the Priestly Code it is stated that the Maaser Rishon existed as the source of sustenance for the Levites, since they had no territory (and hence nowhere to keep livestock or perform agriculture), but this seemingly neglects the existence of a number of scattered Levite cities; scholars believe that the tithe (ie. the tithe of which the Maaser Ani and Maaser Rishon are conflicting versions) actually arose as a generic heave offering, given to priests at the sanctuaries for their sustenance, and only became distinct when the Aaronids began to position themselves as the only Levites that could be legitimate priests.. This view neglects the fact that cities are not agricultural centers and the tithing laws focus on agricultural produce. According to a wholistic view of the Torah, the Levites had no portion in the fields. The Book of Amos, cited by some scholars for support of their proposition, admonishes the Israelites about their rebellious offerings to idols by mentioning practices that would be acceptable to idolatry but not Torah Law. Thus, Amos sarcastically remarks that they bring "for three days your tithes", as well as saying that they should offer their todah offerings of leaven (which was forbidden, see Lev. 2:11). Amos 4:5. Interestingly the text itself does not bear out such scholars identification between Maaser Rishon and Maaser Ani. First, the text clearly does not state "three years" it states "three days". Second, the text expressly proposes deviant practices as forms of rebellion. Finally, the owner of the produce was not required to bring Maaser Ani to the Temple; but, rather to the poor, no matter where there were. Likewise, this confused story does not clearly demonstrate how maaser sheni developed into a system where the owner separated the tithe for himself and had nothing to do with kings or priests.

Contemporary Practice

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Orthodox Judaism regards the tithe as still being required for any produce grown within the historic boundaries of the ancient Kingdoms of Israel and of Judah, covering the modern territories of the state of Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and portions of western Jordan. However, Orthodox Judaism believes that because Maaser Rishon has no inherent sanctity, after Terumat Maaser has been removed, it is governed by the monetary civil laws which put the proof of a claim for monetary compensation on the person making the demand (the plaintiff). Since the lineage of the Leviim is currently unceratain, there is no obligation to provide Maaser Rishon to a questionable Levi. Contemporary practice, after designating and setting aside Terumah, is to make a formal declaration that the portion set aside is Maaser Rishon. Afterwards, Terumat Maaser is designated and set aside. Finally, depnding on the year, Maaser Sheni or Maaser Ani are designated and tithed in the appropriate manner.

See also

citations and notes

  1. Numbers 18:21-26; Leviticus 27:30-33
  2. Numbers 18:26
  3. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
  4. ibid
  5. Leviticus 27:30-33
  6. ibid
  7. ibid
  8. ibid
  9. Richard Elliott Friedman, Who wrote the Bible?
  10. ibid
  11. Richard Elliott Friedman, Who wrote the Bible?
  12. ibid
  13. Numbers 18:21-24
  14. Peake's Commentary on the Bible
  15. Amos 4:4

References

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