1)

UNDERSTANDING BEIS SHAMMAI AND THE CHACHAMIM (Yerushalmi Perek 3 Halachah 1 Daf 12a)

וקשיא על דבית שמאי [דף יב עמוד ב] בגין דו כשר יפסד

(a)

Question: (Beis Shammai said in the Mishnah (above Zevachim 95-1(c)) that charity collectors give the tithed produce to those that do not tithe; and untithed produce to those that tithe; so that everyone ultimately eats tithed produce.) Just because someone is trustworthy and he tithes, why should he lose out by having to tithe and the one who doesn't separate should receive tithed produce?

נותן לו כדי תיקונו

(b)

Answer: The Gabbai bears this in mind and he give the poor Chaver extra so that he will have enough after he tithes.

מה טעם דב''ש

(c)

Question: Why is Beis Shammai (strict only to give tithed produce to one who doesn't tithe, if they said in the Mishnah that one may give Demai to the poor)?

אפילו תגדרנו עכשיו יכול את לגודרו לאחר זמן אין את יכול לגודרו

(d)

Answer: Here, it refers to the poor of the town, so the problem can be prevented by only giving them tithed produce. But earlier, the Mishnah was discussing travelling poor people - even if you tithe it for them here, they will ultimately receive untithed produce if they go to a town with Gabbaim who are Amei HaAretz.

מה טעם (דרבנן)[דחכמים]

(e)

Question: Why don't the Chachamim accept this?

אם מדקדק את אחריו אף הוא ממעט בצדקה

(f)

Answer: If you probe into the status of the donor, you will reduce the amount of charity given (as the Gabbai will be so busy with the issue of Demai, he will have less time to actually collect and distribute charity).

[דף כה עמוד ב (עוז והדר)] גבאי צדקה בי''ט לא יהו מכריזין כדרך שמכריזין בחול אבל גובים בצנעה ונותנין לתוך חיקו ומחלקין לכל שכונה ושכונה בפני עצמה

(g)

Tosefta: On Yom Tov, the Gabbaim don't announce the same way that they announce during the week; they collect and distribute in private and within each neighborhood separately.

גבאי קופה בשביעית לא יהו מדקדקין בחצירות של אוכלי שביעית

(h)

In Sheviis, the Gabbaim should not be particular to avoid collecting money from those who eat produce of Sheviis.

(נותנו)[נתנו] להן פת מותר שלא נחשדו ישראל להיות נותנין אלא או מעות או ביצות

1.

If they donated bread, it is permitted, because they would only give money or eggs to others without knowing that these can receive the Kedusha of Sheviis (but they would inform the recipient if they were giving Sheviis bread).

ר' חנינא בשם רבי פינחס הדא דתימר במקום שזורעין ולא אוכלין לאכול אינו חשודין כ''ש להאכיל

(i)

(R. Chanina citing R. Pinchas): When are they not suspected (for things other than money and eggs)? In a place where they are suspected of only planting but not of eating - since they wouldn't eat themselves, we are not concerned that they would give others.

כהנים המגבלין בטהרה לא יהו מדקדקים בחצירות של אוכלי שביעית

(j)

(Tosefta continues): Kohanim who make dough in Taharah (from grains received from Amei HaAretz and separate their Challah for them) should not be particular to avoid doing this for those who eat produce of Sheviis.

אית תניי תני מדקדקין

1.

Some have a text in the Tosefta: They should be particular (to avoid doing this for those who eat produce of Sheviis).

אמר רבי פינחס מאן דתני מדקדקין מפני חלתן מ''ד אין מדקדקין מבריחו מן הקלה ומכניסו לחמורה טבל ובעון מיתה שביעית בלא תעשה

(k)

(R. Pinchas): For those that have the text 'they should be particular', it's because of the concern that this prohibited Challah will become mixed up with other Challah. For those that have the text 'they should not be particular', it's because otherwise, by not separating Challah for them, you are driving them from the lenient (Sheviis) to the stringent (Tevel). Tevel is stringent because one who eats it incurs death from Heaven. Sheviis is lenient because it is merely a negative commandment.

כיצד הוא עושה

(l)

Question: (According to those that have the text 'they should not be particular') what should he do?

[דף כו עמוד א (עוז והדר)] אמר רבי חונה מביא כהן חשוד ומטבילה ומאכילה לו

(m)

Answer (Rav Chuna): He should bring a Kohen who is suspected in Sheviis and have him immerse and give him that Challah to eat.

ולא נמצא מוסר טהרות לע''ה

(n)

Question: Isn't he giving Taharos to an Am HaAretz (and maybe he won't wait until after nightfall, as required, before he eats it)?

אמר רבי מנא מביא כהן חשוד ומטבילו ומשמרה עד הערב ומאכילה לו.

(o)

Answer (R. Mana): He should bring a Kohen who is suspected in Sheviis and have him immerse and watch him until evening and then give him the Challah.

ולא נמצא מחזיק יד עוברי עבירה

(p)

Question: Doesn't this encourage sinners (as you are only giving him the Challah because he isn't careful about Sheviis)?

ר''ש בר כני בשם ר' אחא משמרה עד ערב הפסח ושורפה:

(q)

Answer (R. Shimon ben Kani citing R. Acha): Rather, he should keep the Challah until Erev Pesach and then burn it.