Beitzah

only from the threshing-floor and from the wine-press,1 so also is the terumah of the tithe to be taken only from the threshing-floor and from the wine-press. [It is stated above]: ‘He estimates!’ Surely it requires [exact] measuring!2 — The author of this is Abba Eleazar b. Gimal. For it was taught: Abba Eleazar b. Gimal says: ‘And your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you’.3 Scripture speaks of two heave-offerings,4 one [being] the great terumah and the other the terumah from the [Levite's] tithe; just as the great terumah may be separated by estimation5 and by mental determination6 so may the terumah from the [Levite's] tithe be separated by estimation and by mental determination. The text [above stated]: R. Abbahu said in the name of R. Simeon b. Lakish: The first tithe which one anticipated while the corn was yet in the ears,its designation renders it tebel in respect of the terumah from the [Levite's] tithe. What is the reason? Said Raba: Because it already bears the name tithe. R. Simeon b. Lakish said: The First Tithe which was anticipated while the corn was yet in the ears is exempt from the great terumah, for Scripture Says: Then ye shall offer up an heave-offering of it for the Lord, a tithe of the tithe;7 a tithe of the tithe have I commanded you, but not ‘the great terumah and a tithe of the tithe’. Said R. Papa to Abaye: If so, even if he anticipated it8 at the barn too? — He replied to him: It is for your sake that Scripture states: Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave-offering of the Lord.9 What [reason] do you see?10 — In the one case,11 it is already corn;12 in the other, it is not already corn. We have learnt elsewhere:13 He who hulls barley,14 may hull it grain by grain and eat it;15 but if he hulls [it] and lays [the grains] in his hand, he is liable [to give tithe].16 Said R. Eleazar: And it is likewise with respect to the Sabbath.17 But this is not so! For Rab's wife hulled for him cupfuls, and likewise R. Hiyya's wife hulled cupfuls for him! Rather if this [statement of R. Eleazar] has been said, It was said with respect to the second clause: He who rubs ears of wheat may winnow them from one hand to the other and eat them [without tithing]; but if he winnows them and lays them on his lap he is liable. Said R. Eleazar: And it is likewise with respect to the Sabbath. R. Abba b. Mamel demurred to this: And [in] the first clause, [is he liable] in respect to tithe but not in respect to Sabbath? Is there then any action which with respect to the Sabbath does not rank as the final act,18 whereas with respect to tithe it is regarded as the final act?19 To this R. Shesheth the son of R. Idi demurred: Is there not? Surely there is [the case of what constitutes] their threshing-floor in respect of tithing;20 for we have learnt,21 When is their harvesting time for tithing?22 In the case of cucumbers and gourds after their coils of blossom have dropped,23 and if they have not dropped, then as soon as they have been made a heap. And we learnt likewise of onions:24 [They are liable for tithing] as soon as he [their owner] sets up a heap. Yet with respect to the Sabbath the setting up of a heap does not involve culpability? Therefore you must needs say that [with respect to the Sabbath] the Torah forbade work of craftsmanship;25 so also here26 [say] the Torah forbade work of craftsmanship. How should one rub them?27 — Abaye in the name of R. Joseph says: One [finger] against one [finger].28 But R. ‘Awia in the name of R. Joseph says: One [finger] against two [fingers].29 Raba [however] says: So long as he does it in an unusual way it is permitted even between the thumb and all the fingers. How should one winnow [them on a Sabbath]? — Said R. Adda b. Ahabah in the name of Rab: He should winnow definite percentage is required, for even a single grain can exempt the whole of the crop, while the giving of one-fortieth — one-sixtieth is only a Rabbinical enactment. But now that we explain that it means the terumah from the Levite's tithe, it definitely says (Num. XVIII, 27) that this must be one-tenth. ofh,unur, in the plural. before the terumah had been actually set apart. given by the Israelite. or vegetables liable to tithe. followed by the laws respecting the Sabbath, indicating that the work forbidden on the Sabbath is similar to the craftsmanship there referred to. But the placing of the vegetables in a heap is not considered a work of craftsmanship. But v. R. Hananel a.l. palm of the other.