The Mishnah taught: If he sold these items and betrothed with the money, she is betrothed.

R. Chagai citing R. Zeira: This ruling applies when payment for the item does not become prohibited as well.

R. Chanina: This shows that one cannot betroth with a stolen item.

(Mishnah): If a person betroths with Terumos, Maaseros, gifts to the Kohanim, the waters of the Red Heifer or the ashes of the Red Heifer, she is betrothed, even if the husband is a Yisrael (as the Gemara will explain).

(Gemara - R. Yosi ben Chaninah): A person may give his Maaseros (i.e. his Terumah) to a Kohen and receive something in return (for choosing that particular Kohen - this is known as tovas ha'naah).

R. Yochanan: A person may not receive something in return.

Question: What is R. Yosi ben Chaninah's source? The pasuk states (Bamidbar 5, 10), "a man's holy items shall be his'' - meaning that he can receive something in return for giving away his holy items (Maaseros).

Question: How does R. Yochanan learn the pasuk? It is his, meaning that he may give it to whoever he wishes.

Question against R. Yosi ben Chaninah - Mishnah: If a person vowed that Kohanim and Leviim may not gain benefit from his property, they can take Terumah/Maaser against his will. (This implies that tovas hana'ah does not have monetary value, otherwise how could they benefit from his money?!)

Answer: The case is when he said, "I do not wish to give tithes at all'', so there is no tovas hana'ah.

Proof - Mishnah: If he said, "these Kohanim/ these Leviim may not benefit from me'', others may take it.

Question against R. Yochanan (Beraisa): One who says, "Take this selah (coin) and give this bechor to my grandson (via his daughter) who is a Kohen'' - this implies that it is permitted to give one's Maaseros for tovas ha'naah.

Answer: The case is when he wished to split them between two Kohanim and one is his grandson; and the Yisrael grandfather said to him, "Take this selah and give all of it to my grandson, the Kohen.''

Question to R. Zeira: According to R. Yosi ben Chaninah (above (b)), why is it prohibited for him to receive tovas ha'naah (something in return) for giving his Terumah to a particular Kohen?

R. Zeira did not answer.

R. Chizkiyah citing R. Acha: R. Zeira actually told them that according to R. Yosi ben Chaninah, why should it be prohibited for the Yisrael to receive a gift for giving the Kohen his produce? It is certainly because (maaris ha'ayin) - it looks bad (as if the Kohen is helping in the threshing floor in order to receive Terumah from everyone there).

Support: Even R. Yochanan agrees that there is a problem of maaras ha'ayin).

Support #2 - Beraisa: Kohanim and Leviim may help in the threshing floor but they may not receive Terumah or Maaser there. If a person gave these gifts to them, he has desecrated them, as the pasuk states (Vayikra 22, 15), "...and they shall not desecrate the holy things of the Children of Israel'' - and they desecrate them.

They even said that their separation of Terumah does not create Terumah, their separation of Maaser does not create Maaser and their consecration does not consecrate. About them, the pasuk states (Michah 3, 11), "Her leaders judge for bribes and her Kohanim instruct for a charge etc.''

And Hash-m brings to them three punishments, as the pasuk states (Michah 3, 12), "Tzion will be ploughed over like a field; Yerushalayim will be heaps of rubble and the Temple Mount will become like stone heaps in the forest.

Question against R. Yochanan (our Mishnah): If a person betroths with Terumos, Maaseros, gifts to the Kohanim, the waters of the Red Heifer or the ashes of the Red Heifer, she is betrothed, even if the husband is a Yisrael...?!

Answer: The Mishnah is referring to a Yisrael who inherited Terumah from his maternal grandfather who was a Kohen.