VIEWPOINTS REGARDING MAASER

 

There are many different opinions regarding the types of produce that is subject to the Biblical obligation of maaser and which is only Rabbinic. Here is a partial list of some of these viewpoints.

Rashi and Tosfos maintain that grains, grapes and olives have a Biblical maaser obligation and all other fruits are only Rabbinically obligated.

 

The Ramban holds that even grapes and olives are not subject to the Biblical obligation of maaser. One would be required Biblically to separate maaser from oil and wine. Reshash on 15b questions this viewpoint from a Mishna in Terumos which states that one can separate terumah from oil onto olives and according to the Ramban, this should not be allowed since oil has a Biblical obligation and olives do not.

 

The Raavad’s opinion is that all of the seven types of produce which Eretz Yisroel is praised by are included in the Biblical obligation.

 

Ritva maintains that the distinction between grains, olives and grapes applies only to maaser sheini, however regarding all other tithings, all fruits from a tree are included in the Biblical obligation.

 

The Smag seems to hold that one is Biblically obligated to separate maaser sheini from vegetables. This opinion is challenged from many different Gemoros.

 

VOW FOR A YEAR

 

Question from a Daf Yomi learner, Michael Post:

Towards the end of today’s daf (12), it says that if one makes a vow “for a year”, that it lasts for 12 months from the time it was said. This is to contrast it to saying ‘for the year’, which is until Rosh Hashanah. When it says ’12 months’, does it mean it literally, or does it mean a year? In other words, if a person makes a vow on the first of Kislev “for a year”, but the year is a leap year, does the vow end on the first of Kislev the following year or the first of Mar-Chesvan the following year?

 

Answer: The Ritva states that if one takes an oath during a leap year and he states “for a year,” the vow will have effect for twelve months. However, if he would state “for this year,” then the vow will have effect the entire year, including the extra month.