Mishnah Arakhin 8:6-7

Sugya Map

• Issue: What is the halachic designation of an unspecified cherem (חרם סתם)?
• Nafka Mina: Is the dedicated item given to the Kohanim (priests) or is it designated for Bedek HaBayit (Temple maintenance)? This impacts ownership, redemption, and practical application.
• Primary Sources: Mishnah Arakhin 8:6; Vayikra 27:21 ("כשדה החרם לכהן תהיה אחזתו"); Vayikra 27:28 ("כל חרם קדש קדשים הוא לה'").

Text Snapshot

• Mishnah Arakhin 8:6: "רבי יהודה בן בתירא אומר סתם חרמים לבדק הבית שנאמר כל חרם קדש קדשים הוא לה'. וחכמים אומרים סתם חרמים לכהנים שנאמר כשדה החרם לכהן תהיה אחזתו."
• Dikduk/Leshon: The Mishnah's use of "סתם חרמים" (unspecified charamim) frames the core machloket. R' Yehuda ben Beteira derives from "קדש קדשים הוא לה'" (holy of holies to Hashem), implying Bedek HaBayit. Chachamim derive from "לכהן תהיה אחזתו" (its possession shall be to the priest), implying priestly ownership.

Readings

• Rambam (Mishnah Arakhin 8:6:1): Rules that halacha follows Chachamim, meaning stam charamim go to the Kohanim. He notes that R' Yehuda ben Beteira’s view aligns with R' Yishmael's later position regarding hekdesh on Kodshei Kodashim and Kodashim Kalim. Importantly, he also states that for hekdesh to Bedek HaBayit bi'zman hazeh (in our time), one may redeem it for a small sum and discard the money.
• Tosafot Yom Tov (Mishnah Arakhin 8:6:2): Corroborates Rambam's psak regarding stam charamim going to Kohanim. However, he highlights a tension, noting that the Gemara (ערכין כט ע"א) seems to imply the halacha follows R' Yehuda ben Beteira.

Friction

The tension identified by Tosafot Yom Tov is striking: Rishonim like Rambam and Rav rule halacha is like Chachamim (for Kohanim), yet the Gemara de-yidaya (implied) seems to favor R' Yehuda ben Beteira (le-Bedek HaBayit). The resolution lies in distinguishing the Mishnah's de'oraita debate concerning stam charamim when the Temple stands, from later hora'ot sha'ah for Bedek HaBayit bi'zman hazeh. The Gemara's discussion and subsequent Geonic tradition (e.g., Sha'iltot, קדושים קיז) allowing symbolic redemption for Bedek HaBayit now is a separate, post-Churban takana, not a rejection of Chachamim's original ruling on stam charamim.

Intertext

• Numbers 18:14: "כל חרם בישראל לך יהיה" – This verse explicitly assigns charamim in Israel to the Kohanim, strongly supporting Chachamim's position.
• Mishnah Nedarim 2:4: Discusses how regional customs (Yehuda vs. Galil) influenced the interpretation of "סתם תרומה" and "סתם חרמים," showing that the contextual understanding of "סתם" has practical nafka minot beyond Arakhin.

Psak/Practice

The psak of Rambam and Rav is that stam charamim belong to the Kohanim (Mishnah Arakhin 8:6:1). However, bi'zman hazeh, the concept of charamim is largely symbolic. For items explicitly dedicated to Bedek HaBayit, the practice, rooted in Geonic tradition, is to redeem them for a minimal sum (e.g., 4 zuzim) and discard the money, as there is no active Bedek HaBayit (Rambam, Mishnah Arakhin 8:6:1; Tosafot Yom Tov, Mishnah Arakhin 8:6:3, citing ערכין כט ע"א). This reflects a hora'at sha'ah to prevent hekdesh from becoming ownerless.

Takeaway

The machloket over "סתם חרמים" reveals deep exegetical differences concerning the nature of hekdesh. While stam charamim are le-kohanim me'ikkar hadin, the post-Churban hora'ah for Bedek HaBayit offers a pragmatic path for symbolic redemption, balancing kedusha with contemporary reality.