In this daf, we begin by exploring the deep halachic connections between standard terumah and terumat ma'aser. The Gemara derives from the pesukim that just as standard terumah can be separated by estimate and by thought, and is within the domain of the homeowner to designate, the same applies to terumat ma'aser. This teaches us the power of a Yid's thoughts and intentions when it comes to separating these holy portions.
We then move into a new Mishnah that deals with a person who sets aside produce or money to use continuously for separating tithes or redeeming second tithe. The Mishnah establishes a beautiful yesod in halacha: we operate under a chazakah, a presumption, that the produce or money remains intact and has not been lost. However, if we later discover that it was indeed lost, or if we are dealing with wine that might have turned to vinegar, we must look closely at the halachic guidelines for when we must worry that our previous tithing was invalid.
בִּשְׁתֵּי תְּרוּמוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
The Gemara explains: Of two terumos the verse speaks when it uses the double expression of separating terumah:
אַחַת תְּרוּמָה גְּדוֹלָה וְאַחַת תְּרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר;
one is terumah gedolah, the great terumah given to the Kohen, and one is terumas ma'aser, the tithe of the tithe given by the Levi to the Kohen;
כְּשֵׁם שֶׁתְּרוּמָה גְּדוֹלָה נִיטֶּלֶת בְּאוֹמֶד וּבְמַחְשָׁבָה,
and the Torah compares them to teach that just as terumah gedolah is taken by estimation, without requiring an exact measurement, and by thought alone, without verbal designation,
כָּךְ תְּרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר נִיטֶּלֶת בְּאוֹמֶד וּבְמַחְשָׁבָה;
so too, terumas ma'aser may be taken by estimation and by thought;
וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְבַעַל הַבַּיִת לִתְרוֹם תְּרוּמָה גְּדוֹלָה,
and furthermore, just as there is permission for the homeowner to separate terumah gedolah from his own produce,
כָּךְ יֵשׁ לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְבַעַל הַבַּיִת לִתְרוֹם תְּרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר.
so too, there is permission for the homeowner to separate terumas ma'aser on behalf of the Levi, even though it is the Levi's responsibility.
מַתְנִי׳ הַמַּנִּיחַ פֵּירוֹת, לִהְיוֹת מַפְרִישׁ עֲלֵיהֶן תְּרוּמָה וּמַעַשְׂרוֹת;
MISHNAH: One who sets aside produce in his house to be constantly separating on their account terumah and tithes for other untithed produce that he has elsewhere, by declaring that the required tithes shall take effect on this set-aside produce;
מָעוֹת, לִהְיוֹת מַפְרִישׁ עֲלֵיהֶן מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי –
or if he set aside money to be constantly separating on its account the redemption of second tithe from other produce —
מַפְרִישׁ עֲלֵיהֶן בְּחֶזְקַת שֶׁהֵן קַיָּימִין.
he may go on separating on their account based on the presumption that they are still extant, and he does not need to worry that they might have been lost or spoiled.
אִם אָבְדוּ – הֲרֵי זֶה חוֹשֵׁשׁ מֵעֵת לְעֵת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר.
However, if he later found that they were lost, behold, he must be concerned that they were lost from a twenty-four hour period prior to his discovery, and any separations he made during that time are invalid; these are the words of Rabbi Elazar.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה פְּרָקִים בּוֹדְקִין אֶת הַיַּיִן –
Rabbi Yehuda says: At three times in the year one must check the wine that was set aside for tithing, to ensure it has not turned to vinegar and become unfit to tithe for good wine —
בְּקִידּוּם שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי הַחַג, וּבְהוֹצָאַת סְמָדַר, וּבִשְׁעַת כְּנִיסַת מַיִם בְּבוֹסֶר.
at the time of the hot east wind at the conclusion of the Festival of Sukkos, and at the emergence of the grape blossom, and at the time of the entry of water into the unripe grape.
גְּמָ׳ מַאי מֵעֵת לְעֵת?
GEMARA: What is the meaning of "from a twenty-four hour period" that Rabbi Elazar ruled we must be concerned about?
רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: מֵעֵת לְעֵת שֶׁל בְּדִיקָה.
Rabbi Yochanan said: It means a twenty-four hour period from the time of the checking when he discovered they were lost, going back twenty-four hours.
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יַנַּאי:
Rabbi Elazar ben Antigonus says in the name of Rabbi Elazar the son of Rabbi Yannai:
The daf transitions from comparing the laws of standard terumah and terumat ma'aser to a practical discussion in the Mishnah regarding the chazakah of extant items. We learn that one may rely on the presumption that set-aside produce or money is still there, but if it is found to be lost, Rabbi Elazar rules that we must be concerned retroactively 'from time to time'—which Rabbi Yochanan explains in the Gemara as a twenty-four hour period. Additionally, Rabbi Yehuda teaches that wine set aside for tithing must be checked for spoilage at three specific seasonal transition points during the year when the weather changes.
In our sugya, the Mishna teaches a beautiful principle of trust: if you set aside produce or money to use for tithing, you can go about your life relying on the presumption (the chazakah) that it is still there, safe and sound. You do not need to live in constant, paralyzing worry that maybe it was lost. But the Mishna also teaches that if you eventually discover it was indeed lost, you must look back twenty-four hours and treat those recent actions with caution.
This contains a profound lesson for our daily avodah. Hashem wants us to live with a healthy sense of trust, both in Him and in the stability of the world He created. We cannot serve Hashem properly if we are constantly plagued by constant doubts, second-guessing every past action, or worrying about unseen problems. We operate on the chazakah that things are fine. Yet, when we do encounter a setback or a breakdown, we do not just shrug it off. We take a moment to look back, trace our steps, and see what needs to be corrected and made right.
This is the balance of a healthy Yid: living with trust and calm, but possessing the honesty to self-correct when a problem actually comes to light.
Today, practice the peace of mind that comes from a chazakah. If you did an act of chesed or set up a mitzvah, trust that it is doing its job without letting anxious thoughts make you second-guess yourself. If a problem does arise later, simply address it calmly and with a quiet heart.