SEPARATING TERUMAH AND MAASER

Fruits of a Jew that was grown in Eretz Yisrael are obligated to have Terumah and Maaser removed from them. While the Terumah and Maaser has not been removed, the fruit is called Tevel, in which stage the fruit is forbidden to be eaten or to benefit from its destruction (like using for seeding). After the separation of Terumah and Maaser the fruit becomes a stage of Chulin, and is permitted to be eaten and have benefit. Below is an explanation of various aspects of Terumah and Maaser.

TERUMAH GEDOLAH תרומה גדולה

• VERSE (SOURCE): Devarim 18,4: You should give him (the Cohen, terumah which is) the first portion of your grain, your wine, and your oil
• PERFORMED IN WHAT YEARS: First six years of 7-year cycle; not in Shmitah
• HOW MUCH IS SEPARATED: According to the Torah: any amount. According to Chaza”l: About 2% (done by estimation) (Good Eye-generous 1/40-2.5%; Average 1/50-2%; Not-so-generous eye 1/60-1.67%)
• TO WHOM IS IT GIVEN: To the Cohen
• WHAT IS DONE WITH THE SELECTED PORTION: If food item is Tahor, may be eaten by a Tahor Cohen; if tameh, then it is destroyed
• IN OUR TIMES: Any amount; not given to anyone; forbidden to all (destroyed with respect)

MAASER RISHON מעשר ראשון

• VERSE (SOURCE): Bemidbar 18,21: And I have given all tithes of Yisrael to the descendants of Levi as an inheritance
• PERFORMED IN WHAT YEARS: First six years of 7-year cycle; not in Shmitah
• HOW MUCH IS SEPARATED: One-tenth precisely of the remaining amount (from the north side)
• TO WHOM IS IT GIVEN: To the Levi
• WHAT IS DONE WITH THE SELECTED PORTION: After separating the Terumah Maaser (see next) then no holiness and permitted to anyone
• IN OUR TIMES: Separate one-tenth; after separation the Terumah Maaser (see next) then no holiness and permitted to anyone (no requirement to give to a Levi)

TERUMAS MAASER תרומת מעשר

• VERSE (SOURCE): Bemidbar 18,26: Speak to the Levites and tell them: When you take the tithes from the children of Yisrael …you should set aside from it for G-d, a tithe of the tithe
• PERFORMED IN WHAT YEARS: First six years of 7-year cycle; not in Shmitah
• HOW MUCH IS SEPARATED: One tenth of the amount given to the Levi (Maaser Rishon)
• TO WHOM IS IT GIVEN: To the Cohen
• WHAT IS DONE WITH THE SELECTED PORTION: If food item is Tahor, may be eaten by a Tahor Cohen; if Tameh, then it is destroyed
• IN OUR TIMES: One tenth; not given to anyone; forbidden to all (destroyed with respect)

MAASER SHENI מעשר שני

• VERSE (SOURCE): Devarim 14,22-23: You should always take the (second) tithe from all produce … You should eat the (second) tithe … before G-d in (Yerushalayim)
• PERFORMED IN WHAT YEARS: First, second, fourth, and fifth years of 7-year cycle
• HOW MUCH IS SEPARATED: One-tenth of the remaining (from the south side)
• TO WHOM IS IT GIVEN: No obligation to give to anyone
• WHAT IS DONE WITH THE SELECTED PORTION: If food item is Tahor, it may be eaten by a Tahor in Yerushalayim or it is redeemed onto a coin which is brought to Yerushalayim to buy food there
• IN OUR TIMES: One tenth; not given to anyone; after redeemed then permitted to all

MAASER ONI מעשר עני

• VERSE (SOURCE): Devarim 14,28-29: At the end of three years ... (that year you shall take a second tithe) converts, orphans and widows…will come and eat
• PERFORMED IN WHAT YEARS: Third and sixth year of the 7-year cycle
• HOW MUCH IS SEPARATED: One-tenth of the remaining (from the south side)
• TO WHOM IS IT GIVEN: To the poor
• WHAT IS DONE WITH THE SELECTED PORTION: No attached holiness and is permitted to all
• IN OUR TIMES: One tenth; given to the poor; no attached holiness and permitted to all