Poor man's tithe: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:07, 17 January 2024

Revision as of 22:10, 17 January 2024

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{{short description|Tenth of produce grown in the third and sixth years of the seven-year sabbatical cycle}}

The '''poor tithe''', or '''poor man's tithe''' ([[Hebrew]]: {{Script/Hebrew|מַעְשַׂר עָנִי}} ''ma'sar<!--"ma'sar"–(NO double “a” – the ע has a Shva, not a ḥaṭaf pataḥ) as in וְכָל-מַעְשַׂר הָאָרֶץ (Lev. 27:30)--> ani''), also referred to as the '''pauper's tithe''' or the '''third tithe''', is a triennial tithe of one's produce, required in [[Judaism|Jewish law]]. It requires that one tenth of produce grown in the third and sixth years of the seven-year [[Sabbatical year (Bible)|sabbatical]] cycle be given to the [[Levites]] and the poor.<ref>Sirach, scrolls, and sages p185 ed. T. Muraoka, John F. Elwolde - 1999 "and honouring God was expressed, ''inter alia'', by paying one's dues to the priesthood and by setting aside the 'pauper's tithe'"</ref>

The law applies during the days of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], and after the Temple's destruction. It applies only to crops that are harvested in the [[Land of Israel]], but during the [[Shmita|Seventh Year]], also applies to crops harvested in Jordan and Egypt, so that the poor of Israel would be supported in the Seventh Year.<ref>[[Mishnah]], ''[[Yadayim]]'' 4:3</ref>