Mishneh Torah, Second Tithes and Fourth Year's Fruit 2-4

Hook

Imagine a single copper coin, a p’rutah, cast into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea—a tiny, physical anchor connecting our modern tables to the eternal holiness of Jerusalem.

Context

• Place: The laws of Ma’aser Sheni (Second Tithe) center on the sanctity of Jerusalem and the surrounding agricultural bounty of Eretz Yisrael.
• Era: Compiled by the Rambam in 12th-century Egypt, the Mishneh Torah systemizes laws that reach back to the Temple period but remain vibrantly relevant for us today.
• Community: These practices remain a bedrock of Sephardi and Mizrahi halachic life, reflecting the deep commitment to maintaining the connection between the Land, its produce, and the Divine.

Text Snapshot

"It is pious behavior to redeem the second tithe for its full value... Our Sages, however, ruled that, in the present age, if one desires, he may redeem a maneh's worth of produce for a p'rutah... That p'rutah should be discarded in the Mediterranean Sea." Mishneh Torah, Second Tithes and Fourth Year's Fruit 2:2

Minhag/Melody

In Sephardi tradition, we maintain the "holiness of the walls." Even today, when we separate Ma’aser Sheni, we treat the produce with reverence. We do not just discard it; we perform the act of pidyon (redemption) to transfer its sanctity onto a coin, which is then destroyed or discarded in a place where it cannot be used, ensuring the sanctity is permanently removed from the realm of daily commerce.

Contrast

While some Ashkenazi traditions might treat these agricultural laws as purely theoretical, Sephardi and Mizrahi practice—heavily influenced by the Rambam and the Shulchan Aruch—tends to preserve the practical, technical application of these laws as an active "pious behavior" (middat chasidut), keeping the memory of the Temple’s holiness alive in every harvest.

Home Practice

If you purchase fruits or vegetables grown in Israel, look for a hechsher that indicates Terumot and Ma'asrot have been separated. Take a moment to recite the blessing for the redemption of the second tithe (if applicable) and consider the effort required to honor the Land's holiness even while we wait for the rebuilding of the Temple.

Takeaway

The tithe is not a tax; it is a way to declare that everything we consume belongs to the Holy One. Even in exile, we act as if we are still standing before the gates of Jerusalem, protecting the holiness of our food as if the Temple were standing today.