Mitzvah —
265
Not to eat Second Tithe grains outside Jerusalem
This page is incomplete.
Help complete the
Mitzvah Minute website.
Do a Mitzvah — Join us in building a living digital Beit Midrash — your partnership makes it possible.
-
לֹֽא־תוּכַ֞ל לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ מַעְשַׂ֤ר דְּגָֽנְךָ֙ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֔ךָ וּבְכֹרֹ֥ת בְּקָרְךָ֖ וְצֹאנֶ֑ךָ וְכׇל־נְדָרֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּדֹּ֔ר וְנִדְבֹתֶ֖יךָ וּתְרוּמַ֥ת יָדֶֽךָ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה
-
Deuteronomy 12:17 - "You may not eat within your cities the tithe of your grain, or of your wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your cattle or of your sheep, or any of your vows that you will vow, or your donations, or the separation by your hand."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
It is forbidden to eat Ma’aser Sheni grain outside of Jerusalem.
This mitzvah forbids eating Ma’aser Sheni grain outside Jerusalem, the city chosen by Hashem for its consumption. The sanctity of the tithe requires that it be enjoyed in the holy city, in a state of purity, and in the presence of the Divine.
By restricting its consumption to Jerusalem, the mitzvah ensures that eating is elevated into a sacred experience tied to Hashem’s dwelling place, reinforcing the spiritual center of the nation.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’aser Sheni 2:1): States clearly that Ma’aser Sheni must be eaten only in Jerusalem; eating it elsewhere is a violation.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 606): Teaches that the root is to honor Jerusalem and ensure that Israel regularly visits the holy city, connecting with its sanctity.
- Talmud (Makot 19b): Lists eating Ma’aser Sheni outside Jerusalem as a prohibited act liable for lashes.
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 12:17): Notes that the verse emphasizes Jerusalem as the exclusive place where sanctified foods may be consumed.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 606) explains that this mitzvah strengthens faith by binding the people to Hashem’s chosen city. By traveling to Jerusalem with their produce, they affirm belief in His command and presence there.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’aser Sheni 2:1) rules that eating Ma’aser Sheni outside Jerusalem violates its sanctity. Restricting its consumption ensures the holiness of both the food and the act is preserved.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 12:17) emphasizes that the mitzvah reflects awe of Hashem, whose Name rests in Jerusalem. Eating it elsewhere would diminish reverence for His chosen place.
Purity – טָהֳרָה
- Talmud (Makot 19b) highlights that eating Ma’aser Sheni in purity in Jerusalem is central to the mitzvah. Outside the city, the standards of purity could not be properly maintained.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- Sefer HaChinuch teaches that justice in this context means giving the holy city its due honor. Redirecting Ma’aser Sheni elsewhere would unfairly diminish Jerusalem’s central role.
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
- The mitzvah connects farming with spiritual pilgrimage. The produce of the land is elevated by requiring it to be eaten in Jerusalem, transforming agriculture into a sacred act.
Terumah / Ma’aser – תְּרוּמָה / מַעֲשֵׂר
- Rambam classifies this mitzvah within the framework of tithes. Ma’aser Sheni is unlike other produce — it carries inherent sanctity, which is safeguarded by restricting where it may be eaten.
Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
- Tithing applies biblically only in Israel (Kiddushin 38b–39a). This mitzvah highlights the land’s sanctity by tying its produce directly to Jerusalem, the spiritual heart of the nation.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- Bringing Ma’aser Sheni to Jerusalem fostered national gatherings, strengthening unity. Eating together in holiness made the mitzvah a communal as well as personal experience.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- Ultimately, this mitzvah is about obedience to Hashem’s designation of His holy city. It reinforces the bond between Israel and their G-d by centralizing worship in Jerusalem.
.webp)
