Gittin - Daf 31
- Deriving laws of terumas maaser from terumah
It was taught in a Baraisa: Abba Elazar ben Gamla says: It was stated in the passuk: "ונחשב לכם תרומתכם" – “And your terumah shall be reckoned to you,” בשתי תרומות הכתוב מדבר – the passuk speaks of two terumos. This first phrase, addressing Leviim, refers to terumas maaser, and the latter part of the passuk discusses terumah gedolah (standard terumah). This teaches to compare the two: כשם שתרומה גדולה ניטלת באומד – Just as standard terumah is taken off by estimation (although the Rabbis issued recommended percentages for terumah, the amount need not be measured, since Biblically even a single kernel is sufficient for all his grain), ובמחשבה – and it may be mentally designated (without physical or verbal designation), כך תרומת מעשר ניטלת באומד ובמחשבה – so may terumas maaser be taken off by estimation (even though there is a required percentage). וכשם שיש לו רשות לבעל הבית לתרום תרומה גדולה – And just as the produce owner has the right to separate standard terumah, כך יש לו רשות לבעל הבית לתרום תרומת מעשר – so may the produce owner separate terumas maaser, although the maaser itself belongs to the Levi, and not him.
- Relying on fruit or wine set aside for taking off terumah
The next Mishnah states: המניח פירות להיות מפריש עליהן תרומה ומעשרות – One who sets aside produce to separate terumah and maaser with them for his other produce, מעות להיות מפריש עליהן מעשר שני – or coins with which to [redeem] maaser sheni, מפריש עליהן בחזקת שהן קיימין – he can separate with them with the assumption that they still exist. אם אבדו – If they were discovered to be lost, and it is unknown when they became lost, הרי זה חושש מעת לעת- he must be concerned about twenty-four hours, according to Rebbe Elazar. Amoraim disagree about this time frame. Rebbe Yochanan says: מעת לעת של בדיקה – We are concerned about the last twenty-four hours before the examination which discovered the loss; any terumah taken during that time period cannot be relied on. However, they are assumed to have been in existence until then, and any terumah taken before is valid. Rebbe Elazar son of Rebbe Yannai says: מעת לעת של הנחה – We are only confident about the first twenty-four-hour period after setting aside the produce. Any terumah taken after that time is unreliable. The Gemara adds that the other Tannaim disagree with our Mishnah and hold that even terumah taken immediately is suspect.
- The power of the east wind
The Gemara discusses several aspects of the power of the east wind. The passuk says: "ויהי כזרוח השמש וימן אלקים רוח קדים חרישית" – And it was, when the sun rose, that Hashem prepared a strong east wind. Rabbah explained the term חרישית (from the word silence): בשעה שמנשבת משתקת כל הרוחות מפניה – when [the east wind] blows, it “silences” all other winds (i.e., it overpowers the coolness of other winds). Another derashah is brought: "אשר בגדיך חמים בהשקט ארץ מדרום" – You, whose garments are warm when the earth is silent of the south wind. Rav Chisda explained: אימתי בגדיך חמים – When are your garments warm? בשעה שהשקיט ארץ מדרום – At a time when the earth is silent from the coolness of the south wind, שבשעה שמנשבת משתקת כל הרוחות מפניה – because when it (the east wind) blows, it “silences” all the winds before it. Amoraim describe other adverse effects of the east wind. Rav said: אשה מפלת בו – A woman miscarries because of it. Shmuel said: אפי' מרגלית שבים מרקבת בו – Even a pearl in the sea rots because of it. Rebbe Yochanan said: אפי' שכבת זרע שבמעי אשה מסרחת בו – Even semen in a woman’s womb decays because of it. All three are darshened from a single passuk.
