Demai 1:1-2

Demai 1:1

Demai is produce that was purchased from an unlearned person, so it’s doubtful whether or not it was tithed. One may act leniently in the case of certain fruits, such as wild figs, crabapples, sycamore fruit, unripe dates, capers, and several others. (These are inferior fruits, which tend to grow in ownerless areas.) There are a few more in Judaea, including coriander and vinegar made from cheap, sour wine. Rabbi Yehuda says that all kinds of wild figs are exempt from tithes in this situation except for dufra, which yields fruit in two seasons. Similarly, all types of jujube are exempt except for those of a place called Shikmona. (Jujube is the name of an actual fruit, not just a candy.) All young sycamore fruits are likewise exempt, except for those that split while ripening on the tree. (All of those fruits that Rabbi Yehuda says are not exempt are more valuable and less likely to grow in ownerless areas.)

Demai 1:2

If maaser sheini (second tithe) is removed from demai produce, it is different from other maaser sheini in that one need not add a fifth when redeeming it and it need not be removed with other tithes. Other ways in which it differs from normal maaser sheini: it may be eaten by an onen (one whose close relative died but is not yet buried); it may be taken out of Jerusalem and redeemed; a small amount of this produce may be discarded en route to Jerusalem; this produce may be given to an unlearned person to take to Jerusalem (even though he may eat it in a state of ritual impurity), and the one who gave it to him must eat the equivalent amount of his own produce; he may redeem it by exchanging silver coins for silver coins, copper coins for copper coins, silver coins for copper coins, or copper coins for produce so long as the produce will be exchanged for money. This is the opinion of Rabbi Meir; the Sages, however, say that once he exchanges the money for produce, the produce must be taken to Jerusalem and eaten there.