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Meilah 4:6-5:1

Meilah 4:6

Orlah (fruit of a tree’s first three years) and mixed species of a vineyard combine with one another; Rabbi Shimon says that these do not combine. Cloth and sack, sack and skins, and skins and mats combine with one another; Rabbi Shimon says this is because they are all susceptible to ritual impurity from being sat on (i.e., by a zav).

Meilah 5:1

Rabbi Akiva says that if a person derives benefit worth a prutah (a small denomination of coin) from consecrated items, even without causing any depreciation to the items’ value, he is guilty of misappropriation. The Sages say that if a thing depreciates with use, then misappropriation only applies when one causes depreciation; if a thing doesn’t depreciate with use, then misappropriation applies as soon as one benefits from it. For example, if a woman put a (consecrated) necklace around her neck or a (consecrated) ring on her finger, or if she drank from a (consecrated) gold cup, then misappropriation applies as soon as she benefits; if a man puts on a (consecrated) shirt or covers himself with a (consecrated) cloak, or if he chopped wood with a (consecrated) axe, then misappropriation only applies if the items depreciate. If a person plucks wool from a sin offering while it's still alive, then misappropriation doesn’t apply until he has causes depreciation; after it’s dead, misappropriation applies as soon as he derives benefit.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz