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Latest comment: 8 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion
The English here is translated from מעשר בהמה, "Maaser Behema." Behema in the most general sense means a domesticated animal (including donkeys, dogs, and house cats). In a less general sense, it refers to kosher grazing animals suitable for offering up as sacrifices in the Temple. If behemah were only "cattle" in its current common usage, then the tithe would only be for cows, rather than for a broader group of domesticated ungulates including sheep, and goats. The term "cattle" is thus quite misleading in today's world. (In the days in which cattle was understood colloquially as referring broadly to all domesticated ungulates there was less of an issue, of course.) Essentially, "cattle" ≠ בהמה/בהמות in the Torah, Talmud, or elsewhere, in Rabbinic parlance, AFAIK, (although I imagine there may be specific instances where it may.) Here is Mishnah Bekhorot 9 for reference. I propose that the name be changed to "Animal Tithe," although I'm open to other solutions. Aharon (talk) 13:05, 1 August 2017 (UTC)Reply
