ME'ILAH 13 (ROSH HASHANAH) - Dedicated l'Zechut Refu'ah Shleimah for Elisheva Chaya bat Leah. Dedicated by Michael Steinberg, David Steinberg, and Ethan Steinberg.
1)

SHEVACH HEKDESH

(משנה)
(a)

(Mishnah): Meilah applies to the following (the Mishnah will give examples):

כל הראוי למזבח (דף יג,א) ולא לבדק הבית
1.

Things fit for the Mizbe'ach, but not for Bedek ha'Bayis;

לבדק הבית ולא למזבח
2.

Things fit for Bedek ha'Bayis, but not for the Mizbe'ach. (Most Rishonim hold that this refers to things useful for building. Re'em (in Shitah Mekubetzes, Bava Basra 79a) - it refers to things that Bedek ha'Bayis could honorably sell and benefit from the proceeds, but not to manure. Money paid for it is disgraceful, like Mechir Kelev. Still, Meilah applies, for in any case it is Hekdesh.)

לא למזבח ולא לבדק הבית מועלין בה
3.

Things not fit for either of these.

כיצד
(b)

If one was Makdish any of the following, Meilah applies to it and its contents:

הקדיש בור מלא מים אשפות מלאות זבל שובך מלא יונים אילן מלא פירות שדה מלאה עשבים מועלין בהם ובמה שבתוכה
1.

A pit full of water (it can be used for mud for Bedek ha'Bayis, but not for the Mizbe'ach), a waste heap full of manure (it is not fit for either), a dovecote full of doves (they are valid for Korbanos), a tree full of fruit, or a field full of grass.

אבל אם הקדיש בור ואח"כ נתמלא מים אשפה ואח"כ נתמלא זבל שובך ואח"כ נתמלא יונים אילן ואח"כ נתמלא פירות שדה ואחר כך נתמלאה עשבים מועלין בהם ואין מועלין במה שבתוכה
(c)

However, if one was Makdish it empty, and afterwards the pit, waste heap, dovecote, tree or field became full, Meilah applies to it, but not to its contents;

ר' יוסי אומר המקדיש את השדה והאילן מועלין בהן ובגידולה מפני שהן גידולי הקדש
(d)

R. Yosi says, Meilah applies to a field and tree and to what later grows in them, for they are Gidulei (things that grow from) Hekdesh.

ולד המעושרת לא ינוק מן המעושרת
(e)

The calf of (an animal made) Ma'aser may not nurse from its mother;

ואחרים מתנדבים כן
1.

Others are Misnadev for this. (Tosfos - they volunteer Chulin animals from which the calves may nurse. Rashi - they bring females into the pen on condition that if they become Ma'aser, the milk will be Chulin).

ולד המוקדשין לא ינוק מן המוקדשין ואחרים מתנדבים כן
(f)

Similarly, the child of a Korban may not nurse from its mother. Others are Misnadev for this.

הפועלים לא יאכלו מן גרוגרות הקדש
(g)

(Even though the Torah entitles a worker to eat from food he works with,) one who works for Hekdesh may not eat figs (or any other food) of Hekdesh;

וכן פרה מכרשיני הקדש:
(h)

Similarly, (even though one may not muzzle an animal working with food,) we do not let a cow eat vetch of Hekdesh.

קתני ולד המעושרת לא ינק מן המעושרת מנהני מילי
(i)

(Gemara) Question: What is the source that we may not let a child of a Ma'aser animal nurse from its mother?

אמר רב אחדבוי בר אמי אתיא העברה העברה מבכור מה בכור מועלין בו אף חלב המעושרת מועלין בו חלב המוקדש נמי אתיא אמו אמו מבכור:
(j)

Answer (Rav Achdevoy bar Ami): We learn from a Gezeirah Shavah "Ha'avarah-Ha'avarah" from Bechor. Just like Meilah applies to (every part of) Bechor (it is a male, it has no milk), it applies to (every part, including) milk of Ma'aser. ("Meilah" is imprecise. Meilah does not apply to milk (Mishnah 12b), nor to Kodshim Kalim before Zerikah. Rather, it refers to Isur Hana'ah.)

הפועלין לא יאכלו כו':
(k)

(Mishnah): A worker may not eat figs of Hekdesh...

מאי טעמא
(l)

Question: What is the reason? (Tosfos - we ask about this law. Rashi - we ask why a cow may not eat. We know that workers eat only "b'Cherem Re'echa," i.e. in one's vineyard, but not from Hekdesh.)

אמר רב אחדבוי בר אמי דאמר קרא (דברים כה) לא תחסום שור בדישו דישו שלך ולא דישו של הקדש
(m)

Answer (Rav Achdevoy bar Ami): "Lo Sachsom Shor b'Disho" -- the Isur to muzzle applies to the owner's threshing, not to Hekdesh's. (Tosfos - the Torah equates the rights of people to eat while working with the rights of animals to eat while working.)

הדש קלעילין בשדה הקדש מעל
(n)

One who threshes (Chulin) Kal'ilin (a kind of legume) in a Hekdesh field is Mo'el (he benefits from the field).

והא בתלוש בעינן
(o)

Question: Meilah applies only to detached things!

אמר רבינא ש"מ אבקה מעלי לה:
(p)

Answer (Ravina): (Meilah applies to the dust that is strewn up.) We learn that dust is beneficial for Kal'ilin.

13b----------------------------------------13b
2)

MEILAH OF WATER

(דף יג,ב משנה) שרשי אילן [של] הדיוט הבאין בשל הקדש ושל הקדש שבאין בשל הדיוט לא נהנין ולא מועלין
(a)

(Mishnah): If roots of one's tree enter a Hekdesh field, or roots of a Hekdesh tree enter one's field, one may not benefit from them. Meilah does not apply to them. (The Gemara in Bava Basra explains that the Seifa discusses roots that grew after the tree was Hukdash. This Tana holds that Meilah does not apply to Gidulei Hekdesh. Alternatively, the Reisha discusses roots within 16 Amos of the tree (they belong to the tree's owner), and the Seifa discusses roots beyond 16 Amos. The latter belong to the owner of the field, therefore there is no Meilah.)

מעין שהוא יוצא מתוך השדה של הקדש לא נהנין ולא מועלין
(b)

If a spring (originates in a Chulin field, and) passes through a Hekdesh field, one may not benefit from it. Meilah does not apply to it;

יצא חוץ לשדה נהנין ממנו
1.

After it leaves the Hekdesh field, one may benefit from it.

המים שבכד של זהב לא נהנין ולא מועלין
(c)

One may not benefit from water in a gold (Chulin) jug (drawn for Nisuch ha'Mayim on Sukos), Meilah does not apply to it;

נתנן בצלוחית מועלין בהן
1.

After it is put in a gold (Hekdesh) flask, Meilah applies to it.

ערבה לא נהנין ולא מועלין
(d)

One may not benefit from an Aravah (willow branch). Meilah does not apply to it. (This refers to an Aravah designated to be erected by the Mizbe'ach on Sukos (Sukah 45a). It only resembles Hekdesh - Tif'eres Yisrael. Rambam - it refers to an Aravah that grew in a Hekdesh field.)

ר"א ברבי צדוק אומר נוהגין היו הזקנים שנהנים ממנו בלולביהן:
(e)

R. Eliezer b'Rebbi Tzadok says, Chachamim used to put it with their Lulavim. (Pirush Kadmon (A) - it is permitted even before its Mitzvah is done. Tosfos - he holds that Mitzvos Lav Lehanos Nitnu. I.e. fulfillment of Mitzvos, e.g. taking the four species, is not considered benefit regarding Isurei Hana'ah.)

אמר ר"ל אין מועלין בכולן אבל מועלין בשלש לוגין
(f)

(Gemara - Reish Lakish): Meilah does not apply to all the water (in the jug), only to three Lugim (Pirush Kadmon (B). Most Mefarshim - Meilah applies only if there are exactly three Lugim.)

והקתני סיפא נתנו לצלוחית מועלין בהן
(g)

Question (Seifa): After it is put in a gold flask, Meilah applies to it.

מכלל דרישא אפילו בשלשת לוגין נמי לא
1.

Inference: Beforehand, Meilah does not apply (even to three Lugim, the amount put in the flask)!

אלא אי איתמר אסיפא איתמר מועלין בהן
(h)

Answer: Reish Lakish discusses the Seifa, which says that Meilah applies (to water in the flask);

אמר ר"ל אין מועלין אלא בג' לוגין
1.

He teaches that Meilah applies only if there are exactly three Lugim.

ורבי יוחנן אמר מועלין בכולן
(i)

(R. Yochanan): Meilah applies regardless of the amount of water.

למימרא דקסבר ר"ל יש שיעור למים
(j)

Inference: Reish Lakish holds that there is a Shi'ur (three Lugim) to the amount of water (for Nisuch ha'Mayim).

והתנן
(k)

Question: Elsewhere, he said differently!

אמר ר"א המנסך מי חג בחג בחוץ חייב
1.

(Mishnah - R. Elazar): Even one who pours the water for Nisuch ha'Mayim outside the Beis ha'Mikdash on Sukos is liable (for Avodah outside the Mikdash).

ואמר רבי יוחנן משום מנחם יודאפה ר"א בשיטת ר"ע אמר דדריש נסכיהם אחד ניסוך המים ואחד ניסוך היין
2.

(R. Yochanan citing R. Menachem Yudfa'ah): R. Elazar holds like his Rebbi, R. Akiva, who expounds "u'Nesacheha" (plural). The verse discusses two libations, of water and wine. (Since Nisuch ha'Mayim is mid'Oraisa on Sukos, one is liable for doing it outside.)

ואמר ריש לקיש אי מה יין שלש לוגין אף מים שלש לוגין
3.

Question (Reish Lakish): If so (both Nesachim should be the same), Nisuch of water should be three Lugim, just like Nisuch of wine!

מכלל דסבר ריש לקיש אין שיעור למים
i.

Inference: Reish Lakish holds that there is no Shi'ur for Nisuch ha'Mayim!

לטעמא דמנחם יודאפה קאמר:
(l)

Answer: Reish Lakish asked according to R. Menachem (who said elsewhere that there is no Shi'ur). Reish Lakish himself holds that there is a Shi'ur.

3)

A NEST IN A FORBIDDEN TREE

(משנה) הקן שבראש האילן של הקדש לא נהנין ולא מועלין
(a)

Question (Reish Lakish - Mishnah): If a nest is in a Hekdesh tree, one may not benefit from it. Meilah does not apply to it;

שבאשירה יתיז בקנה
(b)

If it is in an Asheirah (a tree planted for idolatry), one knocks it down with a stick (and the nest is permitted).

המקדיש את החורש מועלין בכולו:
(c)

If one was Makdish a forest, Meilah applies to everything (trees, branches and leaves).