Mitzvah —
266
Not to eat Second Tithe wine products outside Jerusalem
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לֹֽא־תוּכַ֞ל לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ מַעְשַׂ֤ר דְּגָֽנְךָ֙ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֔ךָ וּבְכֹרֹ֥ת בְּקָרְךָ֖ וְצֹאנֶ֑ךָ וְכׇל־נְדָרֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּדֹּ֔ר וְנִדְבֹתֶ֖יךָ וּתְרוּמַ֥ת יָדֶֽךָ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה
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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 drink or consume Ma’aser Sheni wine products outside of Jerusalem.
This mitzvah forbids drinking or consuming Ma’aser Sheni wine outside Jerusalem. Like grain and oil, wine set aside as Ma’aser Sheni holds sanctity and must be consumed only in the holy city.
Wine symbolizes joy and celebration in the Torah. By limiting its consumption to Jerusalem, the mitzvah sanctifies rejoicing itself, tying it to Hashem’s dwelling place. It elevates wine from ordinary festivity to sacred celebration before G-d.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’aser Sheni 2:1): Rules that wine of Ma’aser Sheni must not be consumed outside Jerusalem, under penalty of lashes.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 606): Teaches that the purpose is to honor Jerusalem and create joy in Hashem’s presence, uniting the people in holiness.
- Talmud (Makot 19b): Lists the prohibition of consuming Ma’aser Sheni wine outside Jerusalem as a separate negative commandment.
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 12:17): Explains that the Torah details grain, wine, and oil to emphasize that all forms of produce sanctified as tithes must be directed to Jerusalem.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 606) explains that by limiting Ma’aser Sheni wine to Jerusalem, the people show faith that true joy comes from Hashem’s presence. It teaches reliance on His commandments, not on self-directed festivity.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’aser Sheni 2:1) rules that drinking Ma’aser Sheni wine outside Jerusalem violates its sanctity. This restriction elevates wine — normally a source of worldly celebration — into a vehicle for holiness.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 12:17) notes that the Torah lists wine alongside grain and oil, showing reverence for each form of produce dedicated to Hashem. This instills awe by restricting their use to His chosen city.
Purity – טָהֳרָה
- Talmud (Makot 19b) records that consuming Ma’aser Sheni wine outside Jerusalem is punishable by lashes, emphasizing that only in purity and sanctity can such joy be properly expressed.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- Sefer HaChinuch emphasizes fairness in mitzvot: what belongs to holiness must not be diverted for private use. Drinking Ma’aser Sheni wine outside Jerusalem would deny the mitzvah its proper fulfillment.
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
- Wine represents one of Israel’s core agricultural blessings. The mitzvah ties its sanctity to the land and its spiritual center, showing that agriculture itself is directed toward holiness.
Terumah / Ma’aser – תְּרוּמָה / מַעֲשֵׂר
- Rambam clarifies that this is part of the larger tithe system, where each category (grain, wine, oil) must be consumed in Jerusalem. Wine is given its own prohibition to underline its special role in joy.
Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
- Tithing applies biblically only in Israel (Kiddushin 38b–39a). The mitzvah highlights the land’s sanctity by requiring its produce — even wine, a symbol of celebration — to return to Jerusalem.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- By gathering in Jerusalem to drink Ma’aser Sheni wine, families and communities celebrated together in holiness, strengthening national unity and collective joy before Hashem.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- This mitzvah is fundamentally about service to Hashem: joy expressed through wine must be directed toward Him, in His city, not in private indulgence.
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