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Bechoros 58b

בכורות נ״ח ע״ב

Bekhorot 58b

Learn Bechoros 58b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

מעשר בהמה: the doubtful ראש השנה case, the tithing procedure, and what is required for the tenth to become holy

Overview

This amud opens at the end of רבא's case about animals born in אב, אלול, and תשרי, when we are unsure whether the ראש השנה for מעשר בהמה is א' אלול or א' תשרי. With a ממה נפשך, רבא rules that one animal is taken from the אלול group and the rest are exempt. The leftovers do not join a later גורן, because the Torah requires a definite tenth (עשירי ודאי), not a ספק. A new משנה then describes the tithing procedure: the animals pass one at a time through a narrow opening, are counted, and the tenth is painted red and declared מעשר. Skipping the paint, the rod, or the walking out does not cancel the tithe after the fact. Taking a tenth without counting is a מחלוקת between the תנא קמא and רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה. The משנה also covers a counted animal, or the holy tenth, jumping back into the pen. The גמרא brings a ברייתא: the mothers stand outside and call the young out, since 'יעבור' means the animal must pass on its own, and רב הונא explains why the mothers are used rather than food. A second ברייתא derives from the פסוק the exclusion of a טריפה and the rules for imperfect counting and for not naming the animal 'tenth'. The amud ends by explaining רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה's view through אבא אלעזר בן גומל's comparison of תרומה גדולה and תרומת מעשר, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְנוֹטֵל אֶחָד מִן הָאֱלוּלִין

and he takes one of the Elul-born animals

וְהַשְּׁאָר פְּטוּרִין,

and the remainder are exempt,

מִמָּה נַפְשָׁךְ:

whichever way you look at it:

אִי בְּאֶחָד בֶּאֱלוּל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה —

if the new year is on the first of Elul —

The steps (28)

  1. Statementרבא rules: take one animal from the אלול group
  2. StatementWhy אלול works under either opinion
  3. ChallengeWhy not combine the leftovers with a later group?
  4. ResolutionThe Torah requires a definite tenth
  5. ChallengeIsn't this obvious?
  6. ResolutionNo rabbinic decree against tithing the אלול animals
  7. QuestionNew משנה: how is tithing done?
  8. ResponseThe tithing procedure
  9. StatementSkipped details do not cancel the tithe
  10. StatementTaking a tenth without counting
  11. StatementAn animal jumps back into the pen
  12. StatementThe ברייתא describes the tithing procedure
  13. ChallengeWhy not just push them out?
  14. ResolutionThe פסוק requires the animal to pass on its own
  15. ChallengeWhy not lure them out with food?
  16. Resolutionרב הונא: a גזירה because of purchased and orphaned animals
  17. StatementA טריפה is excluded from animal tithe
  18. StatementThe proper way is to count with a rod
  19. QuestionWhat if the counting was not done properly?
  20. Response'The tenth shall be holy' — in any case
  21. QuestionWhat if he never called it 'tenth'?
  22. Response'Shall be holy' — even without naming it
  23. QuestionWhat if he just took a tenth without counting?
  24. ResponseWithout counting, it is not 'the tenth'
  25. Statementרבי יוסי son of רבי יהודה: it is tithe
  26. QuestionWhat is רבי יוסי son of רבי יהודה's reason?
  27. ResponseHe follows אבא אלעזר בן גומל's comparison of the two תרומות
  28. Statementתרומה גדולה can be taken by estimate and by thought