3,550. Buying Non-Food Items With Second Tithe Money

Hilchos Maaser Sheini and Neta Revai 7:17

Let’s say that someone bought servants, real estate or a non-kosher animal using second tithe funds, either intentionally or unintentionally. If the seller can’t be found (so the money can’t be returned), the buyer must buy food with an equivalent amount of money and eat it in Jerusalem according to second tithe rules. The general rule is that if the seller can’t be found or has died, whoever spent second tithe funds on anything other than food, drink or ointments must buy the equivalent value of food and eat it in Jerusalem; if the seller is around, the money must be refunded. Similarly, if someone offered burnt offerings, sin offerings or guilt offerings that were bought using second tithe money, he must eat the equivalent value in Jerusalem.

Hilchos Maaser Sheini and Neta Revai 7:18

If someone used second tithe money to buy a kosher wild animal for a peace offering (which is invalid) or a domesticated animal to eat as secular meat (which was legislated against), it’s the same as buying an ox for plowing, i.e., the animal is not designated as a peace offering. If he bought a domesticated animal for a peace offering and it acquired a disqualifying blemish, it loses its second tithe sanctity. Such an animal must be redeemed and the money is not second tithe money. However, if he redeems it himself, he must still add the extra fifth.