Maaser Ani
Encyclopedia
The poor tithe reflects an obligation to set aside one tenth of produce grown in the third and sixth years of the seven-year sabbatical year
agricultural cycle for the poor, in the days of the Temple in Jerusalem
.
There was no mechanism for collection of the poor tithe after 135, but Orthodox Judaism
still regards tithe obligations as residing in produce grown in the Land of Israel. Contemporary practice is to set aside terumah
, separate first tithe
(Hebrew ma'aser rishon מעשר ראשון), separate terumat ma'aser
, then redeem second tithe
(Hebrew: maaser sheni מעשר שני) with a coin (on years that do not coincide with ma'aser ani). The coin can be a minimal amount capable of purchasing food and need not be the value of the produce. When the value of the coin is "filled", the coin can be redeemed on a coin of higher value or discarded in a way that prevents its future use. Terumah and terumat ma'aser must be discarded in a manner consistent with their sanctity.
Orthodox Judaism regards it as meritorious to discharge one's poor tithe obligation additionally by giving a portion of one's income, ideally a tenth, to charity.
The early rabbis, the Tannaim
and Amoraim, understood these texts as describing two separate tithes: the first tithe (maaser rishon) for the Levites and the second tithe (maaser sheni) in Leviticus 27 for eating in Jerusalem, except in every third year when it became the poor tithe (maaser ani). The medieval commentator Rashi
also interprets Deuteronomy 26:12 as referring to the poor tithe:
“The general rule is that the produce [that one sets aside for the Poor Tithe] should be enough to provide two meals”
The Babylonian Talmud also records:
indicating that while the poor man's tithe technically could be used to feed one's father, one should not feed his poor father maaser ani, so as not to embarrass one's father. The son should try his best to care for his father out of his other property. The exchange is recorded in the context of a discussion of the commandment of honoring one's parents
.
The Jerusalem Talmud Gemara
to Tractate Pe'ah
1:1(which does not have a Gemara in the Babylonian Talmud) discusses the maximum amount of one's income/money one can give to the poor and determines that one should not give more than 1/5 of his possessions so he does not become poor himself. This Gemara and a discussion in Sifrei are quoted extensively by later Jewish sages who discussed an ancient custom of tithing 10% of one's income for charity. This tithe, known as ma'aser kesafim, has become a universal obligation in Jewish Law.
Sabbatical year (Bible)
Shmita , also called the Sabbatical Year, is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for the Land of Israel, and still observed in contemporary Judaism....
agricultural cycle for the poor, in the days 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...
.
There was no mechanism for collection of the poor tithe after 135, but 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...
still regards tithe obligations as residing in produce grown in the Land of Israel. Contemporary practice is to set aside terumah
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...
, separate first tithe
Maaser Rishon
The first tithe is a positive commandment in the Torah requiring the giving of one tenth of agricultural produce, after the giving of the standard terumah, to the Kohen...
(Hebrew ma'aser rishon מעשר ראשון), separate terumat ma'aser
Terumat hamaaser
The 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...
, then redeem second tithe
Maaser Sheni
The second tithe is a tithe mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and continued in Orthodox Judaism. It is distinguished from the first tithe , the poor tithe, and the terumat ma'aser...
(Hebrew: maaser sheni מעשר שני) with a coin (on years that do not coincide with ma'aser ani). The coin can be a minimal amount capable of purchasing food and need not be the value of the produce. When the value of the coin is "filled", the coin can be redeemed on a coin of higher value or discarded in a way that prevents its future use. Terumah and terumat ma'aser must be discarded in a manner consistent with their sanctity.
Orthodox Judaism regards it as meritorious to discharge one's poor tithe obligation additionally by giving a portion of one's income, ideally a tenth, to charity.
In the Hebrew Bible
The poor tithe is discussed in the Book of Deuteronomy:- At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall lay it up inside your gates; And the Levite, because he has no part nor inheritance with you, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are inside your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” (DeuteronomyDeuteronomyThe Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
14:28.)
- When you have finished tithing all the tithes of your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give them to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, so that they can eat to satiety in your cities. (Deuteronomy 26:12)
The early rabbis, the Tannaim
Tannaim
The Tannaim were the Rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 70-200 CE. The period of the Tannaim, also referred to as the Mishnaic period, lasted about 130 years...
and Amoraim, understood these texts as describing two separate tithes: the first tithe (maaser rishon) for the Levites and the second tithe (maaser sheni) in Leviticus 27 for eating in Jerusalem, except in every third year when it became the poor tithe (maaser ani). The medieval commentator Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
also interprets Deuteronomy 26:12 as referring to the poor tithe:
In the Talmud
The Babylonian Talmud states in Eruvin 29a:“The general rule is that the produce [that one sets aside for the Poor Tithe] should be enough to provide two meals”
The Babylonian Talmud also records:
- Come learn, two brothers, two partners, a father and son, a teacher and his student can redeem maaser sheni one for the other and can feed one another maaser ani. But if you say - from the son - this one will be found paying his obligation from the poor . . . R' Yehudah says, "May a curse befall one who feeds his father out of Paupers' Tithe:” (Kiddushin 32a)
indicating that while the poor man's tithe technically could be used to feed one's father, one should not feed his poor father maaser ani, so as not to embarrass one's father. The son should try his best to care for his father out of his other property. The exchange is recorded in the context of a discussion of the commandment of honoring one's parents
Honor your father and your mother
The commandment Honor your father and your mother is the fifth of the Ten Commandments in the Hebrew Bible. The commandment is generally regarded in Protestant and Jewish sources as the fifth in both the list in Exodus 20:1-21, and in Deuteronomy 5:1-23, though in Catholic counting this is the...
.
The Jerusalem Talmud 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...
to Tractate Pe'ah
Pe'ah
Pe'ah is the second tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. The tractate is a fitting continuation of Seder Zeraim. Following the initial subject of blessings and benedictions, instilling an attitude of reverence and gratitude, this tractate begins the discussion of the main...
1:1(which does not have a Gemara in the Babylonian Talmud) discusses the maximum amount of one's income/money one can give to the poor and determines that one should not give more than 1/5 of his possessions so he does not become poor himself. This Gemara and a discussion in Sifrei are quoted extensively by later Jewish sages who discussed an ancient custom of tithing 10% of one's income for charity. This tithe, known as ma'aser kesafim, has become a universal obligation in Jewish Law.
See also
- Teruma Gedola
- 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...
- Maaser SheniMaaser SheniThe second tithe is a tithe mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and continued in Orthodox Judaism. It is distinguished from the first tithe , the poor tithe, and the terumat ma'aser...
- the second tithe - Maaser RishonMaaser RishonThe first tithe is a positive commandment in the Torah requiring the giving of one tenth of agricultural produce, after the giving of the standard terumah, to the Kohen...
- ZakatZakatZakāt , one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is the giving of a fixed portion of one's wealth to charity, generally to the poor and needy.-History:Zakat, a practice initiated by Muhammed himself, has played an important role throughout Islamic history...
, alms and tithing in Islam