Kiddushin, Daf Yod Aleph, Part 3
Introduction
The Talmud continues to search for exceptions to the rule that any money mentioned in the Torah must be a minimum of a silver dinar.
והרי מעשר דכתיב (דברים יד, כה) וצרת הכסף בידך ותנן הפורט סלע ממעות מעשר שני כסף הכסף ריבה
But [what about second] tithe, [in regard to which] it is written, And bind up the money in your hand, (Deuteronomy 14:25). Yet we taught: If one changes a sela of second tithe [copper] coins . . . ?
The money came to include [even lesser amounts].
Second tithe is produce which is then redeemed for money and the money is brought to Jerusalem where it is used to buy food. The fact that second tithe is mentioned in the Torah implies that the minimum amount should be a dinar. And nevertheless, there is a mishnah that refers to a sela of copper coins, which is a lesser amount.
The Talmud resolves that this is a special case the Torah states the money and not just money to teach that even a lesser amount would be valid as second tithe.
והרי הקדש דכתיב ונתן הכסף וקם לו ואמר שמואל הקדש שוה מנה שחיללו על שוה פרוטה מחולל התם נמי כסף כסף יליף ממעשר
But what of dedicated property, concerning which it is written, Then he shall give the money, and it shall be assured to him (Leviticus 27:19) and yet Shmuel said: If dedicated property worth a maneh is redeemed with the equivalent of a perutah, it is redeemed?
There too, we deduce the meaning of money from tithes.
When one dedicates something to the Temple he may redeem it with money and according to Shmuel, even a copper perutah. But again, we have a verse which means that the minimum amount should be a silver dinar. Yet the halakhah allows less than a silver dinar.
The Talmud resolves that this is compared with tithes due to the use of the word the money. Just as the money with regard to tithes meant that the amount could be less than a dinar, so too with dedicated property.