Terumah is the tithe, or heave offering, taken from produce grown in the land of Israel and given to the kohanim, or priests.
Notable Sources
All Sources
A
Validating Terumah from a CisternMISHNAH
Validating Terumah from a Cistern
MISHNAH
The conditions under which terumah taken from a cistern is considered valid are crucial for maintaining ritual purity and proper religious practice. The Mishnah, a foundational text of Jewish oral law from around 200 CE, provides detailed rulings on the safety and purity of terumah, including the opinions of Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Yose.
The Power of TerumahTALMUD
The Power of Terumah
TALMUD
The sanctity of teruma is so profound that it can even influence the Angel of Death. In the Talmud, Rabbi Elazar's encounter with the Angel of Death while eating teruma demonstrates its spiritual significance and protective power.
The Miracles of TithingREFERENCE
The Miracles of Tithing
REFERENCE
Observing the mitzvah of setting aside tithes can lead to miraculous and immediate consequences. The story of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa, a sage from the Mishnaic period, illustrates the profound impact of this mitzvah.
The Priest's Wife and Religious PurityTALMUD
The Priest's Wife and Religious Purity
TALMUD
The dilemma of whether a priest's wife who claims she is defiled can partake of teruma highlights the tension between religious purity and preventing rumors about the priest's children. The Talmudic debate in tractate Nedarim explores the conflicting views of Rav Sheshet and Rava on this issue.
The Stringency of TerumahMISHNAH
The Stringency of Terumah
MISHNAH
Jewish law imposes some greater stringencies on terumah than on sacrifices, especially regarding the trustworthiness of an unlearned person in maintaining its purity. The Mishnah in tractate Chagigah discusses the differences between the laws pertaining to sacrifices and terumah.
The Cost of ImpurityTOSEFTA
The Cost of Impurity
TOSEFTA
A non-priest who eats terumah must compensate the priest from whom they took it, even if that terumah was unusable due to ritual impurity. The Tosefta, a late 2nd-century compilation of Jewish oral law, delves into the intricacies of terumah, including the restitution required for consuming it after it has become impure.
Divine Approval of TithingMIDRASH
Divine Approval of Tithing
MIDRASH
The Israelites' decision to continue giving tithes after their return from Babylon, while not technically required, was divinely approved. The Midrash Tanchuma, a collection of homiletic teachings from the early medieval period, recounts this pivotal moment in Jewish history.
Maintaining Ritual PurityTALMUD
Maintaining Ritual Purity
TALMUD
There are specific requirements for ritual purity related to handling and consuming terumah. The Talmudic tractate Chagigah details the levels of hand washing and immersion required for consuming various types of food and for handling purification waters.
Terumah and Tithes in the DiasporaTALMUD
Terumah and Tithes in the Diaspora
TALMUD
The commandment to take terumah from produce is relevant only within the land of Israel, but some tithing practices were maintained in the diaspora as well. The Jerusalem Talmud explores the complexities and leniencies of these practices, highlighting differing rabbinic opinions and historical contexts.
Eating Terumah Before Complete AtonementCOMMENTARY
Eating Terumah Before Complete Atonement
COMMENTARY
Even though terumah is forbidden to the ritually impure, a priest undergoing the ritual rehabilitation process may eat terumah even before completing the final atonement sacrifice. Rashbam, a medieval French Torah commentator, provides a detailed account of Talmudic discussions on ritual purity in his commentary on the book of Leviticus.
Timing of Terumah and TithesTALMUD
Timing of Terumah and Tithes
TALMUD
The timing of separating terumah and tithes is crucial, especially around Rosh HaShana, to ensure proper fulfillment of this mitzvah. The Mishnah in Tractate Rosh Hashanah explains the significance of the first of Tishrei as the new year for vegetables, tithes, and vows, emphasizing the importance of not mixing produce from different harvest years.