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Bechoros 53a

בכורות נ״ג ע״א

Bekhorot 53a

Learn Bechoros 53a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

מַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה: where it applies, רבי עקיבא's view, and why it is not practiced nowadays

Overview

A new פרק opens with a משנה about מעשר בהמה. It applies in ארץ ישראל and in חוץ לארץ, with or without the בית המקדש, and only to חולין. The משנה also rules that cattle and flock animals are counted separately, and so are animals from different years. Sheep and goats are counted together, because the פסוק calls them all צאן. The גמרא first asks whether the משנה contradicts רבי עקיבא, who links מעשר בהמה to מעשר דגן. It answers that רבי עקיבא only means the animal from חוץ לארץ is not brought as a sacrifice. The animal still becomes holy, so the owner may eat it only once it has a מום. Next the גמרא asks why we do not tithe animals today. רב הונא's reason, a decree because of an orphan animal, is rejected. רבה explains instead that the concern is a תקלה, the misuse of a holy animal, and he proves it from a ברייתא that forbids consecrating anything nowadays. The amud ends with a challenge: by that logic, firstborn animals should be prevented from becoming holy by selling part of them to a non-Jew.

Opening lines

מַתְנִי׳ מַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה

MISHNA: Animal tithe

נוֹהֵג בָּאָרֶץ וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ,

applies in the Land and outside the Land,

בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת וְשֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת,

while the Temple stands and when the Temple does not stand,

בַּחוּלִּין אֲבָל לֹא בַּמּוּקְדָּשִׁין.

to non-sacred animals but not to consecrated animals.

The steps (25)

  1. StatementWhere and when animal tithe applies
  2. StatementWhich animal kinds may be tithed together
  3. StatementNew-year and old-year animals are counted separately
  4. ChallengeLogic would suggest sheep and goats should not combine
  5. ResolutionThe verse makes all flock animals one group
  6. ChallengeDoes the משנה contradict רבי עקיבא?
  7. Proofרבי עקיבא's ברייתא: the question and the verse
  8. ProofAnimal tithe is linked to grain tithe
  9. ResolutionOur משנה can follow רבי עקיבא: sacrifice versus sanctity
  10. ProofThe verse רבי עקיבא cites supports this reading
  11. ChallengeIf it is never sacrificed, what is its holiness for?
  12. ResolutionIts holiness means it is eaten only once blemished
  13. StatementQuoting the משנה: with or without the Temple
  14. ChallengeThen why don't we tithe animals today?
  15. Resolutionרב הונא: a rabbinic decree because of an orphan animal
  16. ChallengeThen it should have been banned in Temple times too
  17. ResolutionIn Temple times an announcement solved the problem
  18. ChallengeThen an announcement should work today too
  19. Resolutionרבה's new reason: fear of a mishap
  20. QuestionAsking for a source that we worry about a mishap
  21. ProofProof from a teaching: nothing may be made holy nowadays
  22. QuestionHow an animal is destroyed
  23. ChallengeThen a firstborn should not become holy either
  24. RejectionA firstborn becomes holy by itself
  25. ChallengeThe real question: sell part to a non-Jew