First tithe

The Maaser Rishon , meaning First Tithe in Hebrew (derived from the word eser , meaning tenth), is the setting aside of one tenth of income and produce each year, as a tithe given to the Levites. The tithe is discussed in the Priestly Code , according to which a tenth of the tithe was required to be turned over to the priests , with the other Levites being given only the remaining part of the tithe. Tithing was traditionally seen as one of the main mechanisms by which one could obtain desires from God, as well as escape the punishments that would otherwise have been suffered by the wicked after death. According to classical Jewish folklore , complying with the tithes would cause rain (beneficial in the dry climate of the Levant ), while non-compliance would trigger drought , and hurricanes . .

The first tithe ( Hebrew ma'aser rishon מעשר ראשון) is a positive commandment in the Torah requiring the giving of one tenth of agricultural produce, after the giving of the standard terumah , to the Kohen (Jewish priest) (or Levite ). This giving is required to be free of both monetary and servicial compensation. Historically, during the First Temple period, the first tithe was given to the Levite . Approximately at the beginning of the Second Temple construction, Ezra and his Beth din implemented its giving to the kohanim. The Talmud Adin Steinsaltz 1992 "Yet if a priest has first tithe in his possession, he need not give it to a Levite. Ezra penalized the Levites of his generation because they did not return to Eretz Israel with him, and he decreed that first tithe should be given to ..." Restoration: Old Testament, Jewish, and Christian perspectives p329 James M. Scott - 2001 "One says that the Levites were punished because they did not come up to the Land of Israel during Ezra's days. The other says that the first tithe was given to the priests, so that they would have food when they were in a state of ..."

Tenth of agricultural produce, given to the Kohen Harvested grapes in basket and reaped barley The first tithe ( Hebrew : ma'aser rishon מעשר ראשון) is a positive commandment in the Torah requiring the giving of one tenth of agricultural produce, after the giving of the standard terumah , to the Levite (or Kohen ). This tithe is required to be free of both monetary and servicial compensation. Historically, during the First Temple period, the first tithe was given to the Levite. Approximately at the beginning of the Second Temple construction, Ezra and his Beth din implemented its giving to the kohanim. However, this rule was nullified with the destruction of the Second Temple , and since then the tithe has been given to Levites once again. The Talmud Adin Steinsaltz 1992 "Yet if a priest has first tithe in his possession, he need not give it to a Levite. Ezra penalized the Levites of his generation because they did not return to Eretz Israel with him, and he decreed that first tithe should be given to ..." Restoration: Old Testament, Jewish, and Christian perspectives p329 James M. Scott - 2001 "One says that the Levites were punished because they did not come up to the Land of Israel during Ezra's days. The other says that the first tithe was given to the priests, so that they would have food when they were in a state of ..." Laws of Ma'aser Rishon

Tenth of agricultural produce, given to the Kohen Harvested grapes in basket and reaped barley The first tithe ( ) is a positive commandment in the Torah requiring the giving of one tenth of agricultural produce to charity, after the giving of the standard terumah , to the Levite (or Kohen ). This tithe is required to be free of both monetary and servicial compensation. Originally, during the First Temple period, the tithe was given to the Levite. Approximately at the beginning of the Second Temple construction, Ezra and his beth din implemented its giving to the kohanim. However, this rule was nullified with the destruction of the Second Temple , and since then the tithe has been given to Levites once again. The Talmud Adin Steinsaltz 1992 "Yet if a priest has first tithe in his possession, he need not give it to a Levite. Ezra penalized the Levites of his generation because they did not return to Eretz Israel with him, and he decreed that first tithe should be given to ..." Restoration: Old Testament, Jewish, and Christian perspectives p329 James M. Scott - 2001 "One says that the Levites were punished because they did not come up to the Land of Israel during Ezra's days.