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Mishnayos Meilah Perek 3 Mishnah 6

מעילה פרק ג׳ משנה ו׳

6

With regard to any consecrated item that is fit for sacrifice on the altar but is not fit for Temple maintenance, or if it is fit for Temple maintenance but not for sacrifice on the altar, or fit neither for the altar nor for Temple maintenance, nevertheless one is liable for misusing it. The mishna clarifies each of these categories: Fit for Temple maintenance but not for sacrifice on the altar, how so? In a case where one consecrated a cistern full of water, the water is not fit for sacrifice on the altar, as only water from the Siloam pool is used for the altar. Nevertheless, it is fit for Temple maintenance, e.g., to knead clay with it for use in reinforcing the walls of the Temple. What is the case of an item fit neither for the altar nor for Temple maintenance? If one consecrated garbage dumps full of manure, the place and its contents are fit neither for the altar nor for Temple maintenance. Rather, they are sold and the money received from the sale is donated to the Temple. What is the case of an item fit for sacrifice on the altar but not fit for Temple maintenance? If one consecrated a dovecote full of pigeons, the pigeons are fit for the altar while the dovecote is not fit even for Temple maintenance. Or if one consecrated a tree full of fruit, as the fruit is fit for the altar whereas the tree is not fit even for Temple maintenance. For example, grapes are fit for the altar as wine, but the vines are not fit for Temple maintenance, as they are too flimsy for construction. Another case where the consecrated item is fit for neither the altar nor Temple maintenance is a field full of grass. In all those cases, one is liable for misusing both them and that which is within them, as those that are unfit for use in the Temple will be sold and their money will be used for the altar or for Temple maintenance. But if one consecrated an empty cistern and it was subsequently filled with water, or if one consecrated an empty garbage dump and it was subsequently filled with manure, or an empty dovecote and it was subsequently filled with pigeons, or a tree without fruit and it was subsequently filled with fruit, or an empty field and it was subsequently filled with grass; in all these cases one is liable for misusing them but one is not liable for misusing that which is within them. There is no misuse with regard to enhancements that developed in consecrated property. Rabbi Yosei disagrees in two of the above cases and says: In the case of one who consecrates the empty field in which grass grew or the empty tree on which fruit grew, he is liable for misusing both them and their growth, because these are growths of consecrated property, despite the fact that they grew there only after the property was consecrated. Apropos the growths of consecrated property, the mishna states that an offspring born to a tithed animal before it was tithed may not be given to suckle from the tithed mother, as it is a non-sacred animal that may not be allowed to derive benefit from consecrated property. And there are others who stipulate in this manner, i.e., that the consecration does not apply to the milk. The same is true of the offspring of sacrificial animals born to them before their consecration; they may not suckle from the sacrificial animal. And in this case as well, there are others who stipulate in this manner, i.e., to enable the offspring to suckle. The laborers, who are generally permitted to eat the food of their employer, may not eat from consecrated dried figs, if they work with Temple produce. Rather, they can buy food with the money they are paid. And likewise, a cow working with consecrated property, e.g., threshing Temple produce, may not eat from consecrated vetch [mikarshinei].

כָּל הָרָאוּי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלֹא לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת, לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת וְלֹא לַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לֹא לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלֹא לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת, מוֹעֲלִין בּוֹ. כֵּיצַד, הִקְדִּישׁ בּוֹר מָלֵא מַיִם, אַשְׁפָּה מְלֵאָה זֶבֶל, שׁוֹבָךְ מָלֵא יוֹנִים, אִילָן מָלֵא פֵרוֹת, שָׂדֶה מְלֵאָה עֲשָׂבִים, מוֹעֲלִין בָּהֶם וּבְמַה שֶּׁבְּתוֹכָן. אֲבָל אִם הִקְדִּישׁ בּוֹר וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְמַלֵּא מַיִם, אַשְׁפָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְמַלְאָה זֶבֶל, שׁוֹבָךְ וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְמַלֵּא יוֹנִים, אִילָן וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְמַלֵּא פֵרוֹת, שָׂדֶה וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְמַלְאָה עֲשָׂבִים, מוֹעֲלִין בָּהֶן, וְאֵין מוֹעֲלִין בְּמַה שֶּׁבְּתוֹכָן, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, הַמַּקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֶה וְאִילָן, מוֹעֲלִין בָּהֶם וּבְגִדּוּלֵיהֶם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן גִּדּוּלֵי הֶקְדֵּשׁ. וְלַד מְעֻשֶּׂרֶת לֹא יִינַק מִן הַמְעֻשֶּׂרֶת. וַאֲחֵרִים מִתְנַדְּבִים כֵּן. וְלַד מֻקְדָּשִׁין לֹא יִינַק מִן הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁין. וַאֲחֵרִים מִתְנַדְּבִים כֵּן. הַפּוֹעֲלִים לֹא יֹאכְלוּ מִגְּרוֹגָרוֹת שֶׁל הֶקְדֵּשׁ. וְכֵן פָּרָה לֹא תֹאכַל מִכַּרְשִׁינֵי הֶקְדֵּשׁ:

ו׳
Bartenura

כל הראוי למזבח – it states that their body is appropriate.

בור מלא מים – their body is appropriate for the repair of the Temple house for building, but their body is not appropriate for the altar, for it is not appropriate for the libation of waters but rather potable, running spring water, for they would not make water libations in the Temple other than from the waters of the Shiloah.

אשפה מלאה זבל – its body is not appropriate either for the altar nor for repair of the Temple house but rather for its monetary value.

שובך מלא יונים – it is appropriate for the altar but not for the repair of the Temple house.

אילן מלא פירות – it is appropriate for the altar for First Fruits but not for the repair of the Temple house.

שדה מלאה עשבים – it is not appropriate either for the altar nor for the repair of the Temple house.

ואין מועלין במה שבתוכן – they are not subject to the law of sacrilege in what they became more valuable after it was dedicated [to the Temple].

ולד מעושרת (offspring of the tithe of cattle) – if a female cow came out tenth that passes under the shepherd’s staff (see Leviticus 27:32 – “All tithes of the herd or the flock – of all that passes under the shepherd’s staff, every tenth one – shall be holy to the LORD”), and it had a male issue prior to that, it cannot suck any further from her, for her male issue is unconsecrated, and she (i.e., the mother) is tithe, and it is found that he would be benefitting from the milk of something dedicated, for the tithing of cattle is something holy.

ואחרים מתנדבים כן – meaning to say, this one “that passed under the shepherd’s staff” undefined, It should not suck from it (i.e., the tithe of cattle), but others that had donated [their beasts] beforehand, are permitted to make a condition prior to tithing that if the tithe of their cattle should be a female beast, its milk would be unconsecrated in order that its young can suck from her with legal permission, and similarly also with the offspring of that which is dedicated, that they would not dedicate the milk of their mother. Such is what my Rabbis/Teachers have explained, but it is spoken with an expression of uncertainty. But Maimonides explained [that the expression] “and others donate,” that whomever whose heart causes him to donate who donate milk to cause to suck the offspring of a tithed and dedicated animal, because it is forbidden for offspring to suck from them, for the Rabbis declared that it should be considered like shearing and Divine service that is forbidden with Holy Things. Therefore, they don’t have a remedy other than that others will donate milk to cause them (i.e., the offspring) to suck, since they were forbidden from sucking from the milk of their mother. And this is correct.

לא יאכלו מגרוגרות של הקדש – and even if they made a condition that they would perform the work of their meals, we don’t eat from the dried figs of that which is dedicated [to the Temple], but rather, the treasure gives them the cost of food from that which is dedicated and they purchase [food] from the market.

וכן פרה – that threshes in the vetches of that which is dedicated [to the Temple], we muzzle its mouth so that it doesn’t eat from that which is dedicated, as it is written (Deuteronomy 25:4): “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,” with threshing that is appropriate for it you don’t muzzle, but you do muzzle [an ox] with threshing of dedicated/sacred things that is not appropriate for it, for it is not permitted to eat that which is dedicated/consecrated [to the Temple].

כל הראוי למזבח. שגופן ראוי קאמר:

בור מלא מים. גופן ראוי לבדק הבית לבנין, ואין גופן ראוי למזבח. שאין ראויין לניסוך המים אלא מים חיים, ולא היו מנסכים מים במקדש אלא ממי השילוח:

אשפה מלאה זבל. אין גופה ראוי לא למזבח ולא לבדק הבית אלא לדמים:

שובך מלא יונים. ראוי למזבח ולא לבדק הבית:

אילן מלא פירות. ראוי למקדש לביכורים ולא לבדק הבית:

שדה מלאה עשבים. אינה ראויה לא למזבח ולא לבדק הבית:

ואין מועלין במה שבתוכן. דאין מועלים במה שהשביח לאחר שהוקדש:

ולד מעושרת. אם יצאה נקבה עשירית תחת השבט, והיה לה בן קודם לכן, לא יינק שוב ממנה, שבנה חולין הוא והיא מעשר, ונמצא נהנה מחלב מוקדשים, שמעשר בהמה קודש הוא:

ואחרים מתנדבים כן. כלומר, זו שהעבירה תחת השבט סתם, לא יינק ממנה, אבל אחרים שהתנדבו קודם לכן, רשאים להתנות קודם שתתעשר שאם תצא נקבה בעשירי יהא חלבה חולין כדי שיינק בנה ממנה בהיתר, וכן נמי בולד מוקדשים לא היו מקדישים חלב אמן. כך פירשו רבותי, ומגומגם הוא. ורמב״ם פירש, ואחרים מתנדבים, שמי שלבו נודבו היה מתנדב חלב להניק בן המעושרת ובן המוקדשים, לפי שאסור לבן לינק מהן, דשויוה רבנן כגיזה ועבודה דאסורים בקדשים, הלכך אין להן תקנה אלא שאחרים יתנדבו חלב להניקן, כיון שנאסרו לינק מחלב אמן. וישר הוא:

לא יאכלו מגרוגרות של הקדש. ואפילו התנו שיעשו מלאכה במזונותיהן אין אוכלים מגרוגרות של הקדש, אלא הגזבר נותן להם דמי מזונות משל הקדש והם קונים מן השוק:

וכן פרה. שדשה בכרשיני הקדש, חוסם פיה שלא תאכל משל הקדש, דכתיב (דברים כ״ה:ד׳) לא תחסום שור בדישו, בדיש שראוי לו לא תחסום, אבל אתה חוסם בדיש של הקדש שאינו ראוי לו, שהרי הוא אסור לאכול בהקדש: