By the afternoon of the last festival day, they would make the declaration. How was the declaration made? "I have removed the <i>Kodesh</i> [consecrated material] from the house" (Deuteronomy 26:13)--this is <i>Ma'aser Sheni</i> and <i>Neta Revai</i>. "Have given them unto the Levite"--this is <i>Ma'aser Levi</i> [The first tithe of produce, which must be given to the Levi]. "And also I have given it"--this is <i>Terumah</i> and <i>Terumat Ma'aser</i>. "And also to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow"--this is the poor man's tithe, <i>Leket</i> [fallen gleanings given to the poor], <i>Shikhecha</i> [forgotten gleanings given to the poor], and <i>Pe'ah</i> [corner of a field given to the poor], even though these do not invalidate the confession [if they have not been given]. "From the house"--this is <i>Challah</i> [dough that must be set aside for the priest].
Bartenura on Mishnah Maaser Sheni
ביום טוב אחרון היו מתודין – and they would not confess on the first day of the Festival immediately after the removal [of the fruits of the third and sixth years of the seven-year cycle], in order that he would have something to eat during the Festival. Therefore, on the eve of the first day of the Festival, he would remove [fruits] and leave them over until the last day.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
Introduction
This mishnah and the following three mishnayot are an extended midrash on Deuteronomy 26:12-15, the tithe confession. We should note that according to a simple reading of these verses, they only refer to one type of tithe, although it is not entirely clear to whom this tithe is allotted. However, the rabbis midrashically read into these verses all of the various types of agricultural gifts that a person must remove from his home before he can recite the tithe confession.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Maaser Sheni
זה מעשר שני ונטע רבעי – which are called holy/sacred.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
At minhah on the last festival day they would make the confession. The tithe confession would be made at the last possible time on the last day of Pesah, at minhah, or late afternoon.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Maaser Sheni
זה מעשר לוי – that is, the First Tithe
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
How was the confession made? The actual confession consisted simply of reading all of the verses from Deuteronomy. The mishnah interpolates these verses with midrash, meant to explain what the various phrases in the confession refer to.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Maaser Sheni
וגם נתתיו זה תרומה גדולה – and also, it is a supplement, implying that “I have given it to the Levite” (as per Deuteronomy 26:13) beyond what I gave to the Kohen.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
“I have cleared out the holy portion from the house” this refers to maaser sheni and the fruit of plants in their fourth year. “The holy portion” can refer to maaser sheni which is called “holy” in Leviticus 27:30. And since according to Bet Hillel the rules of maaser sheni also apply to fourth-year fruits, they too can be called “holy.”
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Bartenura on Mishnah Maaser Sheni
מן הבית זו חלה – which was thrown from the dough in the house.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
“I have given them to the Levite” this refers to the tithe of the levites. The “Levite” is a reference to first tithe, given to the Levites.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
“And also I have given them” this refers to terumah and the terumah of tithe. “And also” is taken to be an additional reference, for these words are not strictly needed for the verse to work. Since terumah is not referred to explicitly in the confession, the rabbis see these additional words as a reference to terumah and to the terumah taken from tithe.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
“To the stranger, to the orphans, and to the widow” this refers to the tithe of the poor, gleanings, forgotten sheaves, and the corners of the field, even though these do not prevent [one from making] the confession. “To the stranger, to the orphans, and to the widow,” refers to poor tithe, which must be removed from one’s house before the confession can be recited. In addition, the mishnah also sees here a reference to the other agricultural gifts given to the poor, even though these do not strictly need to be given before one recites the confession.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Maaser Sheni
“Out of the house” this refers to hallah. Finally, the mishnah reads into the confession a reference to “hallah” the part of the dough separated and given to the priest. We will be starting tractate Hallah in just a few short days so get ready (and start baking!).
