Editing Tithe (section)

===Laws===
[[File:Monier22.JPG|thumb|''Tithing in the Temple'' by [[Pierre Monier]]]]
The [[Torah]] commands the giving of various agricultural tithes in various situations, specifically ''[[terumah]]'', ''[[terumat hamaaser]]'', the [[first tithe]], [[second tithe]], [[poor tithe]], and [[animal tithe]]. Not all these "tithes" actually had the proportion of {{frac|10}}. These tithes are mentioned in the Books of [[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]], [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] and [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]].

Every year, ''terumah'', first tithe and ''terumat ma'aser'' were separated from the grain, wine and oil.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|14:23|HE}}</ref> (As regards other fruit and produce, the Biblical requirement to tithe is a source of debate.) Terumah did not have a set amount, but the rabbis suggested it be {{frac|50}} of the crop. First tithe was {{frac|10}} of the crop. ''Terumah'' and ''terumat maaser'' were given to priests ([[kohanim]]); the first tithe was given to [[Levites]]. As priests and Levites did not own or inherit a territorial [[Property|patrimony]]<ref>{{Bibleverse|Numbers|18:21-28|HE}}</ref> these tithes were their means of support. The Levites, in turn, separated ''terumat ma'aser'' from their tithe ({{frac|10}} of the tithe, or {{frac|100}} of the crop).

The second tithe and poor tithe, both {{frac|10}} of the crop, were taken in an alternating basis according to the seven-year ''[[shmita]]'' cycle. In years 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the cycle, second tithe was taken. In years 3 and 6, poor tithe was taken. (In year 7, private agriculture was prohibited, all crops that grew were deemed ownerless, and no tithes taken.) The [[second tithe]] was kept by the owner, but had to be eaten at the site of the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> (If this was difficult, the second could be redeemed for money which would be used to buy food at the Temple site.<ref>{{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|14:24–26|HE}}</ref>) The [[poor tithe]] was given to the strangers, orphans, and widows, and distributed locally "within thy gates"<ref>{{Bibleverse|Deuteronomy|14:28|HE}}</ref> to support the Levites and assist the poor.

An additional tithe, mentioned in {{bibleverse||Leviticus|27:32–33|HE}} is the [[cattle tithe]], which is to be sacrificed as a ''[[korban]]'' at the [[Temple in Jerusalem]].