Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, the Torah continues with the mitzvos of the agricultural cycle in Eretz Yisrael, focusing on the end of the three-year tithing cycle. We learn about the obligation of Biur Ma'asros, where a person must clear out all remaining tithes from his possession and distribute them to their proper recipients, including the Levi, the convert, the orphan, and the widow.

After completing this distribution, the Torah commands the landowner to make a formal declaration, Viduy Ma'asor, before Hashem. This declaration is a public statement of compliance, affirming that the owner has fully kept the halachos of the tithes without any deviation or neglect.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

כִּיWhenתְכַלֶּהyou finishלַעְשֵׂרtithingאֶת—כָּלallמַעְשַׂרthe tithe ofתְּבוּאָתְךָyour produceבַּשָּׁנָהin the yearהַשְּׁלִישִׁתthe thirdשְׁנַתthe year ofהַמַּעֲשֵׂרthe titheוְנָתַתָּהand you giveלַלֵּוִיto the Leviteלַגֵּרto the convertלַיָּתוֹםto the orphanוְלָאַלְמָנָהand to the widowוְאָכְלוּand they shall eatבִשְׁעָרֶיךָin your gatesוְשָׂבֵעוּ׃and be satisfied

רַשִׁ״י

כיWhenתכלהyou have finishedלעשרto titheאת—כלallמעשרthe tithe ofתבואתךyour increaseבשנהin the yearהשלישת.the thirdכְּשֶׁתִּגְמֹרwhen you finishלְהַפְרִישׁto set asideמַעַשְׂרוֹתtithesשֶׁלofשָׁנָהthe yearהַשְּׁלִישִׁית;the thirdקָבַעHe establishedזְמַןthe time ofהַבִּעוּרthe removalוְהַוִּדּוּיand the confessionבְּעֶרֶבon the eve ofהַפֶּסַחthe Pesachשֶׁלofשָׁנָהthe yearהָרְבִיעִית,the fourthשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimי"ד14"מִקְצֵה"At the end ofשָׁלֹשׁthreeשָׁנִיםyearsתּוֹצִיאyou shall bring outוְגוֹ'",etc."נֶאֱמַרIt is saidכָּאןhere"מִקֵּץ","at the end of"וְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidלְהַלָּןfurther on"מִקֵּץ"At the end ofשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִים"years"לְעִנְיַןregarding the matter ofהַקְהֵלHakhelדבריםDevarimל"א31מַהjust asלְּהַלָןfurther onרֶגֶלa festivalאַףsoכָּאןhereרֶגֶל,a festivalאִיifמַהsoלְּהַלָּןfurther onחַגthe festival ofהַסֻּכּוֹתSukkosאַףsoכָּאןhereחַגthe festival ofהַסֻּכּוֹת,Sukkosתַּלְמוּדthe teachingלוֹמַרsaysכיWhenתכלהyou have finishedלעשרto titheמַעַשְׂרוֹתtithesשֶׁלofשָׁנָהthe yearהַשְּׁלִישִׁית,the thirdרֶגֶלa festivalשֶׁהַמַּעַשְׂרוֹתthat the tithesכָּלִיןare finishedבּוֹon itוְזֶהוּand this isפֶּסַח,Pesachשֶׁהַרְבֵּהfor manyאִילָנוֹתtreesיֵשׁthere areשֶׁנִּלְקָטִיןthat are harvestedאַחַרafterהַסֻּכּוֹת;Sukkosנִמְצְאוּthey are foundמַעְשְׂרוֹתtithesשֶׁלofשְׁלִישִׁיתthe third yearכָּלִיןto be finishedבְּפֶסַחon Pesachשֶׁלofרְבִיעִית,the fourth yearוְכָלand anyoneמִיwhoשֶׁשִּׁהָהdelayedמַעַשְׂרוֹתָיוhis tithesהִצְרִיכוֹobligated himהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureלְבַעֲרוֹto remove itמִןfromהַבַּיִתthe houseשםthereה"וhalacha 6:

רַשִׁ״י

שנתthe year ofהמעשר.the titheשָׁנָהa yearשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notנוֹהֵגpracticedבָּהּin itאֶלָּאexceptמַעֲשֵׂרtitheאֶחָדoneמִשְּׁנֵיof the twoמַעַשְׂרוֹתtithesשֶׁנָּהֲגוּthat were practicedבִשְׁתֵּיin the twoשָׁנִיםyearsשֶׁלְּפָנֶיהָ,that are before itשֶׁשָּׁנָהfor the yearרִאשׁוֹנָהfirstשֶׁלofשְׁמִטָּהShemittaנוֹהֵגis practicedבָּהin itמַעֲשֵׂרtitheרִאשׁוֹן,firstכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat it is saidבמדברBamidbarי"ח18"כִּיwhenתִקְחוּyou takeמֵאֵתfromבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶת—הַמַּעֲשֵׂר",the titheוּמַעֲשֵׂרand titheשֵׁנִי,secondשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimי"ד14"וְאָכַלְתָּand you shall eatלִפְנֵיbeforeה'Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour God…מַעְשַׂרthe tithe ofדְּגָנְךָyour grainתִּירֹשְׁךָyour wineוְיִצְהָרֶךָ",and your oilהֲרֵיbeholdשְׁנֵיtwoמַעַשְׂרוֹת,tithesוּבָאand it comesוְלִמֶּדְךָand teaches youכָאןhereבַּשָּׁנָהin the yearהַשְּׁלִישִׁיתthe thirdשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notנוֹהֵגpracticedמֵאוֹתָןof thoseשְׁנֵיtwoמַעַשְׂרוֹתtithesאֶלָּאexceptהָאֶחָד,the oneוְאֵיand whichזֶה?is thisזֶהthis isמַעֲשֵׂרtitheרִאשׁוֹן,firstוְתַחַתand instead ofמַעֲשֵׂרtitheשֵׁנִיsecondיִתֵּןhe shall giveמַעְשַׂרthe tithe ofעָנִי,the poorשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidכָּאןhereונתתהand you shall giveללויto the Leviteאֶת—אֲשֶׁרthat whichלוֹis his—הֲרֵיbeholdמַעֲשֵׂרtitheרִאשׁוֹן,firstלגרto the strangerליתוםto the orphanולאלמנהand to the widow—זֶהthis isמַעְשַׂרthe tithe ofעָנִיthe poorעי'seeספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

ואכלוAnd they shall eatבשעריךin your gatesושבעו.and be satisfiedתֵּןgiveלָהֶםto themכְּדֵיenough forשָׂבְעָן,their satisfactionמִכָּאןfrom hereאָמְרוּthey saidאֵיןwe do notפּוֹחֲתִיןgive lessלֶעָנִיto the poor personבַּגֹּרֶןin the barnפָּחוֹתlessמֵחֲצִיthan halfקַבa kavחִטִּיםof wheatוְכוּ'etceteraספרי;SifreiתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiפאהPeahפ"חchapter eightה"הhalacha five:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְאָמַרְתָּand you shall sayלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour GodבִּעַרְתִּיI have cleared outהַקֹּדֶשׁthe holy portionמִןfromהַבַּיִתthe houseוְגַםand alsoנְתַתִּיוI have given itלַלֵּוִיto the Leviteוְלַגֵּרand to the strangerלַיָּתוֹםto the orphanוְלָאַלְמָנָהand to the widowכְּכָלaccording to allמִצְוָתְךָYour commandmentאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוִּיתָנִיYou commanded meלֹאI did notעָבַרְתִּיtransgressמִמִּצְוֺתֶיךָfrom Your commandmentsוְלֹאand I did notשָׁכָחְתִּי׃forget

רַשִׁ״י

ואמרתAnd you shall sayלפניbeforeה'Hashemאלהיך.your Godהִתְוַדֵּהconfessשֶׁנָּתַתָּthat you gaveמַעַשְׁרוֹתֶיךָ:your tithes

רַשִׁ״י

בערתיI have removedהקדשthe hallowed thingsמןfromהבית.the houseזֶהthisמַעֲשֵׂרTitheשֵׁנִיSecondוְנֶטַעand the planting ofרְבָעִיthe fourth yearספרי;Sifreiמע"שMaaser Sheniה"יchapter fiveוְלִמֶּדְךָand it teaches youשֶׁאִםthat ifשִׁהָהhe delayedמַעַשְׂרוֹתָיוhis tithesשֶׁלofשְׁתֵּיtwoשָׁנִיםyearsוְלֹאand did notהֶעֱלָםbring them upלִירוּשָׁלַיִםto Yerushalayimשֶׁצָּרִיךְthat he mustלְהַעֲלוֹתָםbring them upעַכְשָׁו:now

רַשִׁ״י

וגםAnd alsoנתתיוI have given itללוי.to the Leviteמַעֲשֵׂרthe titheרִאשׁוֹן:firstוגם.and alsoלְרַבּוֹתto includeתְּרוּמָהTerumahוּבִכּוּרִים:and first-fruits

רַשִׁ״י

ולגרand to the strangerליתוםto the orphanולאלמנה.and to the widowזֶהthisמַעְשַׂרthe tithe ofעָנִיthe poorשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

ככלAccording to allמצותך.Your commandmentנְתַתִּיםI gave themכְּסִדְרָם,according to their orderלֹאI did notהִקְדַּמְתִּיadvanceתְרוּמָהheave-offeringלְבִכּוּרִיםbefore first-fruitsוְלֹאand notמַעֲשֵׂרtitheלִתְרוּמָהbefore heave-offeringוְלֹאand notשֵׁנִיsecondלָרִאשׁוֹן,before firstשֶׁהַתְּרוּמָהfor the heave-offeringקְרוּיָהis calledרֵאשִׁית,firstשֶׁהִיאsince itרִאשׁוֹנָהis firstמִשֶּׁנַעֲשָׂהfrom when it becomesדָגָן,grainוּכְתִיבand it is writtenשמותShemosכ"ב22"מְלֵאָתְךָYour fullnessוְדִמְעֲךָand your liquidsלֹאdo notתְאַחֵר"delay—לֹאdo notתְשַׁנֶּהalterאֶת—הַסֵּדֶרthe orderספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

לאI have notעברתיtransgressedממצותיך.Your commandmentsלֹאI did notהִפְרַשְׁתִּיseparateמִמִּיןfrom a speciesעַלforשֶׁאֵינוֹthat which is notמִינוֹits speciesוּמִןand fromהֶחָדָשׁthe new cropעַלforהַיָּשָׁןthe old cropשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

ולאand notשכחתי.have I forgottenמִלְּבָרֶכְךָfrom blessing Youעַלuponהַפְרָשַׁתthe separation ofמַעַשְׂרוֹתtithesברכותBerachotמ'40:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

לֹאI did notאָכַלְתִּיeatבְאֹנִיin my mourningמִמֶּנּוּfrom itוְלֹאand I did notבִעַרְתִּיclear outמִמֶּנּוּfrom itבְּטָמֵאin impurityוְלֹאand I did notנָתַתִּיgiveמִמֶּנּוּfrom itלְמֵתfor the deadשָׁמַעְתִּיI have listenedבְּקוֹלto the voice ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהָיmy GodעָשִׂיתִיI have doneכְּכֹלaccording to allאֲשֶׁרthatצִוִּיתָנִי׃You commanded me

רַשִׁ״י

לאI did notאכלתיeatבאוניin my mourningממנו.from itמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁאָסוּרthat it is forbiddenלְאוֹנֵןto an onenעי'seeביכוריםBikkurimפ"בchapterמשנהMishnahב'two:

רַשִׁ״י

ולאand notבערתיhave I consumedממנוfrom itבטמא.in uncleannessבֵּיןwhetherשֶׁאֲנִיthat Iטָמֵאwas uncleanוְהוּאand itטָהוֹר,was cleanבֵּיןwhetherשֶׁאֲנִיthat Iטָהוֹרwas cleanוְהוּאand itטָמֵאwas uncleanספריSifrei;וְהֵיכָןand whereהֻזְהַרwas he warnedעַלconcerningכָּךְ?this"לֹאyou notתוּכַלmayלֶאֱכֹלeatבִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ"within your gatesדבריםDevarimי"ב12זוֹthisאֲכִילַתeating inטֻמְאָה,uncleannessכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is saidבִּפְסוּלֵיregarding disqualifiedהַמֻּקְדָּשִׁיםconsecrated animalsשםthereט"ו15"בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָwithin your gatesתֹּאכְלֶנּוּyou shall eat itהַטָּמֵאthe uncleanוְהַטָּהוֹרand the cleanוְגוֹ'",etcאֲבָלbutזֶהthisלֹאnotתוּכַלmay youלֶאֱכֹלeatדֶּרֶךְin the manner ofאֲכִילַתeating ofשְׁעָרֶיךָyour gatesהָאָמוּרwhich is saidבְּמָקוֹםin a placeאַחֵרotherיבמותYevamosע"ג73b:

רַשִׁ״י

ולאand notנתתיhave I givenממנוfrom itלמת.for a corpseלַעֲשׂוֹתto makeלוֹfor itאָרוֹןa coffinוְתַכְרִיכִין:and shrouds

רַשִׁ״י

שמעתיI have hearkenedבקולto the voice ofה'Hashemאלהי.my GodהֲבִיאוֹתִיוI have brought itלְבֵיתto the House ofהַבְּחִירָה:the Chosen

רַשִׁ״י

עשיתיI have doneככלaccording to allאשרthatצויתני.You commanded meשָׂמַחְתִּיI rejoicedוְשִׂמַּחְתִּיand I made rejoiceבוֹwith itספרי;Sifreiמעש"שMaaser Sheniפ"הchapterי"בtwelve:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

הַשְׁקִיפָהLook downמִמְּעוֹןfrom the abode ofקָדְשְׁךָYour holinessמִןfromהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensוּבָרֵךְand blessאֶת—עַמְּךָYour peopleאֶת—יִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוְאֵתand —הָאֲדָמָהthe groundאֲשֶׁרwhichנָתַתָּהYou gaveלָנוּto usכַּאֲשֶׁרasנִשְׁבַּעְתָּYou sworeלַאֲבֹתֵינוּto our fathersאֶרֶץa landזָבַתflowing withחָלָבmilkוּדְבָשׁ׃and honey

רַשִׁ״י

השקיפהGlance downממעוןfrom the residence ofקדשך.Your holinessעָשִׂינוּwe have doneמַהwhatשֶּׁגָּזַרְתָּthat You decreedעָלֵינוּ,upon usעֲשֵׂהdoאַתָּהYouמַהwhatשֶּׁעָלֶיךָthat is upon Youלַעֲשׂוֹתto doספריSifrei,שֶׁאָמַרְתָּfor You saidויקראVayikraכ"ו26"אִםIfבְּחֻקֹּתַיin My statutesתֵּלֵכוּyou walk…וְנָתַתִּיthen I will giveגִשְׁמֵיכֶםyour rainsבְּעִתָּם":in their season

רַשִׁ״י

אשרwhichנתתהYou have givenלנוto usכאשרasנשבעתYou sworeלאבותינו.to our fathersלָתֵתto giveלָנוּto usוְקִיַּמְתָּand You fulfilled—ארץa landזבתflowing withחלבmilkודבשand honey:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah details the specific declaration of Viduy Ma'asor made in the third year of the cycle, where the landowner declares before Hashem that he has cleared all holy tithes from his home and distributed them to the Levi and the needy. He testifies that he did not eat the tithes while in mourning, did not clear them out in a state of impurity, and did not use them for any needs of the dead. The declaration concludes with a heartfelt tefillah, asking Hashem to look down from Heaven and bless the nation of Yisrael and the land flowing with milk and honey that He swore to our avos.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is teaching us a tremendous yesod here in the parsha of Vidui Ma'aser. After a person goes through the whole process of tithing, giving away his hard-earned produce to the Levi, the ger, the yasoim, and the almanah, he has to stand before Hashem and declare, "I have done just as You commanded me." Lichoira, why does the Torah require this verbal declaration? If a person did the mitzvah, isn't that enough? Why must he stand up and say out loud that he didn't hold back, that he didn't eat it in mourning, and that he gave it all away properly?

The chiddush here is that in avodas Hashem, it is not enough to just do the action of the mitzvah on the outside while feeling resentful or heavy on the inside. When you give away your money or your food, the yetzer hara wants you to feel a pinch, to feel like you are losing out. By making us stand and declare "I have cleared out the consecrated portion... I have obeyed the voice of Hashem," the Torah is training us to take ownership of our mitzvos with joy and clarity. We are declaring that we did not do it begrudgingly; we did it with a full heart, recognizing that everything we have belongs to Hashem anyway.

Mimeila, when a Yid reaches this level of complete alignment, where his actions and his mouth are fully in sync, and he is happy to do the ratzon of Hashem, he has the koach to ask for the ultimate berachah: "Look down from Your holy abode and bless Your people." When we do our part with a whole heart, we open up the shefa from Shamayim.

Today, when you give tzedakah or do a chesed for another Yid, don't just do it quickly to get it over with. Take one second beforehand to say to yourself, "I am doing this with a full heart because this is what Hashem wants from me," and feel the simchah of doing His mitzvah.