Kiddushin, Daf Nun Gimmel, Part 4

 

Introduction

The sugya continues to discuss what types of agricultural gifts can be used for betrothal.

 

והרי חלה דכתיב בה (במדבר טו, כא) תתנו לה’ ותנן המקדש בתרומות מקודשת

דלא כתיב ביה קדש

 

But what of hallah, about which it is written, [From the first of your dough] you shall give to the Lord (Numbers 15:21), yet we learned: If one betroths [a woman] with terumoth, she is betrothed?

That is because holy is not written there.

 

Even though hallah, dough given to the priest, is described as to the Lord one can use it for betrothal because it is not called holy by the Torah. [Hallah is sometimes called terumah, because both are given to the priest].

 

והרי שביעית דכתיב בה (ויקרא כה, יב) יובל הוא קדש תהיה לכם ותנן המקדש בפירות שביעית מקודשת דלא כתיב ביה לה’

 

But what of seventh year [produce], about which it is written: For it is a Jubilee; it shall be holy to you, yet we learned: If one betroths with seventh year produce, [the woman is] betrothed?

That is because to the Lord is not written there.

 

One can use sabbatical year produce to betroth a woman because the Torah does not describe it as to the Lord.

 

והרי תרומה דכתיב (ירמיהו ב, ג) קדש ישראל לה’ ראשית תבואתו ותנן המקדש בתרומה מקודשת ההוא בישראל כתיב

ולאו ממילא שמעת מינה תרגמה רבין סבא קמיה דרב אמר קרא הוא בהוייתו יהא

 

But what of terumah, about which it is written: Israel is holy to the Lord, the first-fruits [i.e., terumah] of his produce (Jeremiah 2:3) yet we learned: If one betroths [a woman] with terumoth, she is betrothed? That refers to Israel.

But does that not follow automatically?

Rabin the Elder explained it before Rav: The verse says, It is for the Lord it must remain in its natural form.

 

When Jeremiah uses the words to the Lord and holy he is referring to Israel, not to terumah.

The Talmud then asks if Israel is holy to the Lord then why shouldn t terumah also be holy to the Lord, and not usable as betrothal money. After all, the two are compared.

Rabin now pulls out another element of the verse about tithe tithes are for the Lord and must remain in their natural form. They cannot be used for betrothal.