Regulations
The Torah instructs that the tithe should be of the "five grains", wine, olive oil, fruit, and cattle (Leviticus 27:30-33). The time for taking such tithes was at the finished stage of processing the produce (Numbers 18:30). Unlike Terumah given to the Kohen, the Maaser Rishon was not regarded as sacred, and as a result did not have to be ritually pure, neither was it required to be eaten in any particular state (such as the Temple in Jerusalem). Once received by the Levite, it was regarded simply as ordinary property, and they could pass it on to non-Levites, or sell it, as they wished.
Traditionally tithes were calculated for the produce of each whole year, however Chazalic Literature indicates that there was a debate between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel as to when this tithing year should begin and end. Tithing years had different starts and ends depending on the particular crop in question; land crops began their tithe year on the first of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah); according to Eleazar Kalir and Simeon bar Yohai the first of Tishri was also the start of the tithe year for cattle, but according to Meir Lublin it was the first of Elul that held this honour. The followers of Hillel argued that the tithe year for fruit from trees began on the fifteenth of Shevat, but the followers of Shammai, his rival, argued that it began on the first of Shevat; the view of Hillel's followers eventually became the majority view and the new year for trees — Tu Bishvat — is now held at the date which they considered appropriate.
Read more about this topic: First Tithe
Famous quotes containing the word regulations:
“The admission of Oriental immigrants who cannot be amalgamated with our people has been made the subject either of prohibitory clauses in our treaties and statutes or of strict administrative regulations secured by diplomatic negotiations. I sincerely hope that we may continue to minimize the evils likely to arise from such immigration without unnecessary friction and by mutual concessions between self-respecting governments.”
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