Rabbi Shimon says, there are three categories in <i>Bikkurim</i>: the <i>Bikkurim</i> themselves, the addition to the <i>Bikkurim</i>, and the adornment of the <i>Bikkurim</i>. The addition to the <i>Bikkurim</i> are from the same species. The adornment of the <i>Bikkurim</i> is from a different species. The addition to the <i>Bikkurim</i> are eaten in ritual purity, and are exempted from <i>Demai</i> [produce from which it is uncertain whether tithes were already taken]. The adornment of the <i>Bikkurim</i> are obligated in <i>Demai</i> [requiring the <i>Kohen</i> to tithe them].
Bartenura on Mishnah Bikkurim
הבכורים – the essence of the First Fruits are a fig that was the first to ripen and a cluster of grapes that were the first to ripen.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bikkurim
Introduction
This mishnah analyzes the differences between the bikkurim, fruits that are brought as an addition to the bikkurim and fruits used to decorate the bikkurim baskets.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bikkurim
תוספת הבכורים – at the time of the harvesting of the First Fruits, one adds to them from other figs or from other grapes.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bikkurim
Rabbi Shimon says: there are three elements in bikkurim: the bikkurim, the additions to the bikkurim, and the ornamentations of the bikkurim. Rabbi Shimon wishes to distinguish between the bikkurim themselves and two other categories. The first is “the additions to the bikkurim” which are fruit that a person did not designate as bikkurim when he originally set the bikkurim aside but that he wishes to bring as bikkurim when he goes to the Temple. The second category is the purely ornamental fruit, discussed in yesterday’s mishnah. As we shall see, the additions to the bikkurim are basically treated as bikkurim, whereas the ornamentations are not.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bikkurim
עיטור – the nice fruit that one brings closely together around the basket to beautify the observance of the commandment.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bikkurim
The additions to the bikkurim must be of a like kind; But the ornamentations can be of a different kind. The additions to the bikkurim must be of the same species as the bikkurim themselves. Thus if he wants to add to his figs, he must bring more figs. However, the ornamentations can be of any species, as Rabbi Shimon ben Nanas stated in yesterday’s mishnah.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bikkurim
מין שאינו במינו – He wreaths the basket of First Fruits of grapes with figs and of the First Fruits of figs with grapes, and even with fruits that are not from the Seven Species, according to the words of Rabbi Shimon, who holds that view above (Chapter 3, Mishnah 8).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bikkurim
The additions to the bikkurim can only be eaten in purity, and are exempt from demai. But the ornamentations of the bikkurim are subject to demai. The additions to the bikkurim are treated almost as if they were themselves bikkurim and therefore they can be eaten only in a state of ritual purity. They are exempt from demai, which means that if a priest receives additions to bikkurim from an am haaretz (one who is not trusted with regard to tithes), he need not tithe them out of doubt lest they had not yet been tithed. Bikkurim themselves are completely exempt from tithes. In contrast, if a priest receives bikkurim ornamentations from an am haaretz he needs to tithe them, just as one always needs to tithe produce received from an am haaretz. All the more so must he remove tithes if he knows that the fruit has not yet been tithed. Again, the ornamentations of bikkurim do not have the status of bikkurim and they are fully obligated in all tithing laws.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bikkurim
ופטורים מן הדמאי – If the Kohen took them from those who do not observe certain religious customs regarding tithes (i.e., “Am HaAretz”) who brought First Fruits.
