{"id":12100,"date":"2026-07-08T00:07:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T21:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=12100"},"modified":"2026-09-01T17:13:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:13:41","slug":"17-08-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/17-08-07\/","title":{"rendered":"07. WHEN PRODUCE BECOMES FIXED FOR MA\u2019ASER"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Torah law, one must separate terumot<\/em> and ma\u2019asrot<\/em> from produce only after two stages: its processing has been completed, and it has been fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em> by being brought into the house. As the Torah states: \u201cI have removed the sacred portion from the house\u201d (Devarim 26:13). Therefore, by Torah law, the mitzva applies only after the produce has reached the house (Bava<\/em> Metzia<\/em> 88a). In other words, although one may separate terumot<\/em> and ma\u2019asrot<\/em> from produce once its gmar<\/em> melakha<\/em> is complete, the Torah prohibition against eating it without separation begins only when it is brought into the house.<\/p>\n The Sages added safeguards to this Torah law by establishing two additional rules.<\/p>\n First, from the moment produce is picked, it may no longer be treated like ordinary untithed produce, even though it has not yet become fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em>. One may eat it only as a casual snack, akhilat<\/em> arai<\/em>, but not as a set meal, akhilat<\/em> keva<\/em>. One may not plant it in the ground, though one may feed it regularly to animals until it becomes fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em> (MT, Laws of Ma\u2019aser 3:1\u20132, 20; 6:3).<\/p>\n Second, produce can become fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em> even before it is brought into the house. This happens when the produce is intended for sale. In that case, once its gmar<\/em> melakha<\/em> is complete, it is considered ready for its next stage \u2013 sale \u2013 and it becomes fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em>. From that point on, even eating it as a casual snack, akhilat<\/em> arai<\/em>, is forbidden until terumot<\/em> and ma\u2019asrot<\/em> are separated. Even if the produce has not yet reached the place where it will actually be sold, once its processing is complete and it would be sold if a buyer came, it is fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em>. If, however, it would not yet be sold even if a buyer came, one may still eat it casually until it reaches the place where it is intended to be sold and becomes fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em>.<\/p>\n The determining factor is whether, from the owner\u2019s perspective, the produce is already ready for sale. Therefore, even if it has not yet reached the marketplace or other place of sale, it is fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em> if the owner would sell it were a buyer to arrive. If, however, the owner would not yet sell it even if a buyer came, the produce is not yet considered ready for sale. In that case, one may continue eating from it as a casual snack until it reaches the place where he intends to sell it. At that point, it becomes fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em> (Mishna<\/em>, Ma\u2019asrot<\/em> 2:3; R. Shimshon, R. Ovadia of Bartenura, and R. Shlomo Sirilio o Mishna<\/em>, Ma\u2019asrot<\/em> 2:3; Yerushalmi<\/em>, Ma\u2019asrot<\/em> 1:4).<\/p>\n If the owner intends to bring the produce home for his household\u2019s use, the Sages established that it can, under certain circumstances, become fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em> even before it enters the house. Once that happens, even eating it as a casual snack, akhilat<\/em> arai<\/em>, is forbidden until terumot<\/em> and ma\u2019asrot<\/em> are separated.<\/p>\n The Sages identified six factors that fix produce for ma\u2019asrot<\/em> even before it enters the house: a) bringing it into a guarded courtyard; b) selling it; c) cooking it; d) salting or pickling it; e) separating teruma<\/em> gedola<\/em> from it; and f) Shabbat \u2013 when Shabbat begins, produce designated for Shabbat use becomes fixed for ma\u2019aser<\/em> (MT, Laws of Ma\u2019aser 3:3; 4:1\u20132).<\/p>\n Since the produce has already reached the stage at which separation may be performed, if one is unsure whether his eating counts as a casual snack, akhilat<\/em> arai<\/em>, or a set meal, akhilat<\/em> keva<\/em>, or whether the produce has already become fixed for ma\u2019asrot<\/em>, one should separate terumot<\/em> and ma\u2019asrot<\/em> with a berakha and thereby remove the doubt.[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n