Heave offering
Encyclopedia
A heave offering, or terumah is a kind of offering. The word is generally used in the positive sense of an offering to God, though rarely it may also be used in a negative sense, such as of a dishonest "judge who loves gifts."
In Chazal
ic literature it is listed as one of twenty four priestly gifts
. The consumption of terumah is restricted by numerous Torah
-based rules and could be eaten by priests, their families, and their servants. The terumah may be consumed only in a state of ritual purity.
This is also called the "great offering (Hebrew terumah gedolah תרומה גדולה) which is, usually, a food item given to the Jewish priest
, as a gift. The 13th C. French rabbi Hezekiah ben Manoah
explains the adjective "great" (Hebrew gedolah) to be because this terumah is the first of all tithes given on produce and thus is given from the "greatest quantity of produce" before any other gift is given.
. Consequently versions such as the King James Version have in a few verses translated "heave offering," by analogy with "wave offering:"
(1917) it is generally translated "offering"; while in the King James Version (1611) it is also generally translated "offering" but also sometimes "oblation" and four times "heave offering".
The word is used in various contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, including one usage in Proverbs denoting haughtiness or graft (Proverbs 29:4). In most contexts it refers to designating something for a higher purpose, or lifting apart of a quantity from a larger quantity), as in the gifts offered by the Children of Israel for the inauguration of the Mishkan
(as described in the Book of Exodus). In the Bible, there are numerous different varieties of gifts for which the term terumah was applied. In Jewish law, the word terumah by itself was associated with "great offering" (terumah gedolah), the first portion of produce that was required to be separated and kept pure for consumption by a kohen. There was no direct connection with the Jerusalem Temple or the Temple service.
There were two groups of terumot:
, Tosefta
, and Gemara
, include a tract entitled Terumot
("Offerings"), which deals with the laws regulating raised offerings.
According to Jewish Law, the "great offering" (terumah gedolah) could only be separated from the non-tithed produce (tevel), and "tithe offering" (terumat maaser) only be separated from "first tithe" (maaser rishon), by its owner, or an authorized, legally permissible agent; minors, deaf-mute
s, the mentally ill and non-Jews were not obligated to perform such separation (Terumot 1:1). However, while non-Jews could not act as agents for Jews to separate terumah, the terumah owned by and separated by non-Jews was considered valid and had the status and sanctity of terumah (Terumot 3:9). Based in part on the measures described by the prophet Ezekiel, Jewish Law set the minimum amounts of the "great offering" at 1/60 of the finished produce for a poor person, 1/50 for the average person, and 1/40 for the generous. The "tithe offering" (terumat maaser) was always 10% of the "first tithe" (maaser rishon).
The Talmud
opens with a discussion of when the Shema Yisrael
("Hear O Israel") prayer should be recited. The Mishnah
states that it should be recited when priests
who were "unclean" (tamei, טָמֵא ritually impure) are able to enter the Temple to eat their terumah raised-offering (Brachot
2a). This passage is one many which intimately connect the daily rituals of Orthodox Judaism
with details of the rhythm of the life of the Temple in Jerusalem
.
is not mentioned in the Deuteronomic code
; critical scholars believe that this is because the Deuteronomist regarded all Levites as being able to become priests, and not just Aaron
's descendants, hence this tithe of a tithe would be meaningless. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia
article (1907) this assumes that the Book of Deuteronomy was written before the Books of Leviticus and Numbers, and also requires the assumption of an unrecorded and previously unknown revolution in the Jewish world.
In Chazal
Chazal
Chazal or Ḥazal is an acronym for the Hebrew "Ḥakhameinu Zikhronam Liv'rakha",...
ic literature it is listed as one of twenty four priestly gifts
The twenty-four Kohanic gifts
The twenty four priestly gifts, are a description in the Gemara tradition of offerings given to the Jewish priests. The adjective "kohanic" means "of a kohen", relating to a Jewish priest....
. The consumption of terumah is restricted by numerous Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
-based rules and could be eaten by priests, their families, and their servants. The terumah may be consumed only in a state of ritual purity.
This is also called the "great offering (Hebrew terumah gedolah תרומה גדולה) which is, usually, a food item given to the Jewish priest
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
, as a gift. The 13th C. French rabbi Hezekiah ben Manoah
Hezekiah ben Manoah
Hezekiah ben Manoah was a French rabbi and exegete.In memory of his father, who lost his right hand through his stead-fastness in the faith, Hezekiah wrote a commentary on the Pentateuch, under the title Ḥazzeḳuni. It was printed at Venice in 1524...
explains the adjective "great" (Hebrew gedolah) to be because this terumah is the first of all tithes given on produce and thus is given from the "greatest quantity of produce" before any other gift is given.
Etymology
The feminine noun terumah, ("lifting up") comes from the verb stem, rum (רוּם), "high" or "to lift up." The formation of terumah is parallel to the formation of the feminine noun "wave offering" ('tenufah' תְּנוּפָה) from the verb stem nuf, "to wave," and both nouns, and both verbs, are found together in the third occurrence in the Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
. Consequently versions such as the King James Version have in a few verses translated "heave offering," by analogy with "wave offering:"
Hebrew Bible
The term occurs 76 times in the Massoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible; in the Septuagint it was rendered afairema (ἀφαίρεμα), in JPS TanakhTanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
(1917) it is generally translated "offering"; while in the King James Version (1611) it is also generally translated "offering" but also sometimes "oblation" and four times "heave offering".
The word is used in various contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, including one usage in Proverbs denoting haughtiness or graft (Proverbs 29:4). In most contexts it refers to designating something for a higher purpose, or lifting apart of a quantity from a larger quantity), as in the gifts offered by the Children of Israel for the inauguration of the Mishkan
Mishkan
Mishkan is the Hebrew word for the dwelling place of God, or the Tabernacle. It may refer to:*The Israelite Tabernacle...
(as described in the Book of Exodus). In the Bible, there are numerous different varieties of gifts for which the term terumah was applied. In Jewish law, the word terumah by itself was associated with "great offering" (terumah gedolah), the first portion of produce that was required to be separated and kept pure for consumption by a kohen. There was no direct connection with the Jerusalem Temple or the Temple service.
There were two groups of terumot:
- Sacrifice/redemption of the firstborn:
- Redemption of firstborn male childrenPidyon HaBenThe Pidyon HaBen, or Redemption of the first born son, is a mitzvah in Judaism whereby a Jewish firstborn son is redeemed by use of silver coins from his birth-state of sanctity....
(Pidyon HaBenPidyon HaBenThe Pidyon HaBen, or Redemption of the first born son, is a mitzvah in Judaism whereby a Jewish firstborn son is redeemed by use of silver coins from his birth-state of sanctity....
). (Note that Pidyon HaBen redemption-monies are still given to Kohanim, and the KohenKohenA Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
still customarily lifts the redemption coins up as part of the contemporary Pidyon Haben ceremony, but the "heave" element is not a requirement for a valid Pidyon HaBen to occur in the absence of a Temple in JerusalemTemple in JerusalemThe Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
under contemporary Jewish law.) - Tithe of First fruitsFirst FruitsFirst Fruits are a religious offering of the first agricultural produce of the harvest. In classical Greek, Roman, Hebrew and Christian religions, the first fruits were offered to the temple or church. First Fruits were often a primary source of income to maintain the religious leaders and the...
(Hebrew bikkurim בכורים) (Not done in the absence of a Temple in JerusalemTemple in JerusalemThe Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
).
- Redemption of firstborn male children
- General titheTitheA tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
s:- The general offering (terumah) or the "great offering" (terumah gedolah) was a portion of the finished grain, wine and oil separated for the Jewish priest prior to the "first tithe" (maaser rishon) separated for a LeviteLeviteIn Jewish tradition, a Levite is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. When Joshua led the Israelites into the land of Canaan, the Levites were the only Israelite tribe that received cities but were not allowed to be landowners "because the Lord the God of Israel himself is their inheritance"...
. Unlike the "first tithe" (maaser rishon), the Torah did not specify any minimum measure for a terumah offering; hence, even one grain of barley could satisfy the requirement to separate terumah. A passage in the Book of EzekielBook of EzekielThe Book of Ezekiel is the third of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and preceding the Book of the Twelve....
suggests that the "great offering" (terumah gedolah) should consist of 1/50 of the owner's grain, wine or oil. - The Mitzvah of ChallahThe Mitzvah of ChallahThe dough offering is a positive commandment requiring the owner of a bread dough to give a part of the kneaded dough to a priest...
("dough bread", challah חלה) Contemporary practice is to burn rather than give to the Jewish KohenKohenA Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
(priest). - Portion of gift offeringGift offeringA meal offering or gift offering , also referred to as grain offerings, is a type of Biblical sacrifice, specifically a sacrifice that did not include meat...
s, of slaughter offeringSlaughter offeringA sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible A sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible A sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible (Hebrew zevakh is the slaughter of an animal to God followed by a feast or a meal. This is distinguished from the korban sacrifice, and oblation (Hebrew minchah)....
s, which were allocated to the priestsKohenA Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
. - Portion of the terumat hamaaserTerumat hamaaserThe tithe offering is a rabbinical Hebrew term based on the commandment in the Hebrew Bible to give a tithe maaser of 10% to the Levites. The first term, terumah, means offering...
, the Levite Tithe, which applies only to produce grown in the Land of Israel.
- The general offering (terumah) or the "great offering" (terumah gedolah) was a portion of the finished grain, wine and oil separated for the Jewish priest prior to the "first tithe" (maaser rishon) separated for a Levite
In the Talmud and rabbinic literature
The MishnahMishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
, Tosefta
Tosefta
The Tosefta is a compilation of the Jewish oral law from the period of the Mishnah.-Overview:...
, and Gemara
Gemara
The Gemara is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by Rabbi Judah the Prince The Gemara (also transliterated Gemora or, less commonly, Gemorra; from Aramaic גמרא gamar; literally, "[to] study" or "learning by...
, include a tract entitled Terumot
Terumot
Terumot is the sixth tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. It discusses two type of donations, one the terumah which is generally 1/50 of your crop given to the Kohen and 10% of the Masser that is given to Levite is given to the Kohen, called "Terumat Masser." The laws of...
("Offerings"), which deals with the laws regulating raised offerings.
According to Jewish Law, the "great offering" (terumah gedolah) could only be separated from the non-tithed produce (tevel), and "tithe offering" (terumat maaser) only be separated from "first tithe" (maaser rishon), by its owner, or an authorized, legally permissible agent; minors, deaf-mute
Deaf-mute
For "deafness", see hearing impairment. For "Deaf" as a cultural term, see Deaf culture. For "inability to speak", see muteness.Deaf-mute is a term which was used historically to identify a person who was both deaf and could not speak...
s, the mentally ill and non-Jews were not obligated to perform such separation (Terumot 1:1). However, while non-Jews could not act as agents for Jews to separate terumah, the terumah owned by and separated by non-Jews was considered valid and had the status and sanctity of terumah (Terumot 3:9). Based in part on the measures described by the prophet Ezekiel, Jewish Law set the minimum amounts of the "great offering" at 1/60 of the finished produce for a poor person, 1/50 for the average person, and 1/40 for the generous. The "tithe offering" (terumat maaser) was always 10% of the "first tithe" (maaser rishon).
The Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
opens with a discussion of when the Shema Yisrael
Shema Yisrael
Shema Yisrael are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services...
("Hear O Israel") prayer should be recited. The Mishnah
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
states that it should be recited when priests
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
who were "unclean" (tamei, טָמֵא ritually impure) are able to enter the Temple to eat their terumah raised-offering (Brachot
Berakhot (Talmud)
Berachot is the first tractate of Seder Zeraim, a collection of the Mishnah that primarily deals with laws relating to plants and farming...
2a). This passage is one many which intimately connect the daily rituals of Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
with details of the rhythm of the life of the Temple in Jerusalem
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
.
Biblical criticism perspectives
The heave offering of the tithe, though mentioned by the Priestly codePriestly Code
The Priestly Code is the name given, by academia, to the body of laws expressed in the Torah which do not form part of the Holiness Code, the Covenant Code, the Ritual Decalogue, or the Ethical Decalogue. The Priestly Code constitutes the majority of Leviticus, as well as some of the laws...
is not mentioned in the Deuteronomic code
Deuteronomic Code
The Deuteronomic Code is the name given by academics to the law code within the Book of Deuteronomy. It contains "a variety of topics including religious ceremonies and ritual purity, civil and criminal law, and the conduct of war"...
; critical scholars believe that this is because the Deuteronomist regarded all Levites as being able to become priests, and not just Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
's descendants, hence this tithe of a tithe would be meaningless. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia
Jewish Encyclopedia
The Jewish Encyclopedia is an encyclopedia originally published in New York between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls. It contained over 15,000 articles in 12 volumes on the history and then-current state of Judaism and the Jews as of 1901...
article (1907) this assumes that the Book of Deuteronomy was written before the Books of Leviticus and Numbers, and also requires the assumption of an unrecorded and previously unknown revolution in the Jewish world.
See also
- Terumat hamaaserTerumat hamaaserThe tithe offering is a rabbinical Hebrew term based on the commandment in the Hebrew Bible to give a tithe maaser of 10% to the Levites. The first term, terumah, means offering...
- a tithing obligation arising from the Terumah sacrifice still regarded as obligatory by Orthodox Judaism on produce - TerumotTerumotTerumot is the sixth tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. It discusses two type of donations, one the terumah which is generally 1/50 of your crop given to the Kohen and 10% of the Masser that is given to Levite is given to the Kohen, called "Terumat Masser." The laws of...
- plural of Terumah, and a section of the Mishnah concerning tithing obligations. - Terumah (parsha)Terumah (parsha)Terumah or Trumah is the nineteenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Exodus...
- the nineteenth weekly portion of the Torah. It primarily contains the instructions on how to create the Tabernacle.