Mishnah 1
1)
(a)What is the Mitzvah of 'Reishis ha'Gez'?
(b)How many times a year does it apply?
(c)It applies in Eretz Yisrael and in Chutz la'Aretz, in the time of the Beis-ha'Mikdash and when it is not standing. What does the Mishnah say about the wool of Mukdashin?
(d)Seeing as the first two rulings are obvious, why does the Tana see fit to insert them?
1)
(a)the Mitzvah of 'Reishis ha'Gez' is - to give some of the first seasonal shearings of wool to the Kohen.
(b)It applies - whenever one shears one's sheep (even a hundred times a year) ...
(c)... in Eretz Yisrael and in Chutz la'Aretz, in the time of the Beis-ha'Mikdash and when it is not standing - to wool of Chulin sheep, but not to Mukdashin.
(d)Despite the fact that the first two rulings are obvious, the Tana sees fit to insert them - on account of the distinction between Chulin and Mukdashin.
2)
(a)The Minhag nowadays, is like Rebbi Ila'i. What does Rebbi Ila'i say, based on the Gezeirah-Shavah "Nesinah" "Nesinah" from Terumah?
(b)On what basis do some Poskim apply the same ruling to Matanos?
(c)What do the majority of Poskim say?
(d)With regard to the Din of Kodshim, what do we learn from the word "Tzoncha" (in the Pasuk in Parshas Shoftim "Reishis Gez Tzoncha")?
2)
(a)The Minhag nowadays, is like Rebbi Ila'i, who says, based on the Gezeirah-Shavah "Nesinah" "Nesinah" from Terumah - that Reishis ha'Gez, like the produce regarding Terumah, is confined to the sheep of Eretz Yisrael (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'Noheg ba'Aretz ... ').
(b)Some Poskim apply the same ruling to Matanos - because Reishis ha'Gez and Matanos have the same Din.
(c)The majority of Poskim however - disagree with that.
(d)With regard to the Din of Kodshim, we learn from the word "Tzoncha" (in the Pasuk in Parshas Shoftim "Reishis Gez Tzoncha") that - even Kodshei Bedek ha'Bayis are not subject to Reishis ha'Gez (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
3)
(a)One of the two Chumros of Matanos over Reishis ha'Gez is the fact that, based on the Pasuk there "Im Shor Im Seh", it applies both to cattle and to sheep (including goats), whereas Reishis ha'Gez is confined to sheep. How do we learn this from the Pasuk in Iyov "u'mi'Gez Kevosai Yischamem"?
(b)What is the second Chumra?
3)
(a)One of the two Chumros of Matanos over Reishis ha'Gez is the fact that, based on the Pasuk there "Im Shor Im Seh", it applies both to cattle and to sheep (including goats), whereas Reishis ha'Gez is confined to sheep exclusively - as we learn from the Gezeirah-Shavah "Reishis *Gez" Tzoncha" "u'mi'*Gez* Kevosai Yischamem" (Iyov).
(b)The second Chumra is - that it applies even to a minimal Shi'ur (if one Shechts only one animal), whereas Reishis ha'Gez does not (as we shall now see).
Mishnah 2
4)
(a)Based on the Pasuk in Yeshayah "Yechayeh Ish Eglas Bakar u'Shetei Tzon", what Shi'ur does Beis Shamai give for Reishis ha'Gez?
(b)What Shi'ur does Beis Hillel give, based on a Pasuk in Shmuel?
(c)How do we interpret the word "Asuyos" in the Pasuk there "Chameish Tzon Asuyos"?
4)
(a)Based on the Pasuk in Yeshayah "Yechayeh Ish Eglas Bakar u'Shetei Tzon", Beis Shamai give the Shi'ur for Reishis ha'Gez as - two sheep.
(b)Based on the Pasuk in Shmuel "Chameish Tzon Asuyos", Beis Hillel give the Shi'ur as - five sheep.
(c)We interpret the word "Asuyos" there - to mean 'which force' the owner to perform a Mitzvah that he was not hitherto obligated.
5)
(a)How much wool must each sheep produce, according to Rebbi Dosa ben Horkinas?
(b)What do the Chachamim say?
(c)What do they really mean by 'Kol she'Hein'?
(d)Then why did they say 'Kol she'Hein'?
(e)If there are twenty-four Ma'ah in a Sela, how many barley-grains does each Ma'ah weigh?
5)
(a)According to Rebbi Dosa ben Horkinas, each sheep must produce - a Manah and a P'ras (half a Manah), totalling a hundred and fifty Dinar, of wool.
(b)The Chachamim say even - a Kol she'Hein ...
(c)... by which they mean at least sixty Sela ...
(d)... and they only said 'Kol she'Hein' - relative to the Shi'ur of Rebbi Dosa ben Horkinas (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(e)There are twenty-four Ma'ah in a Sela, and each Ma'ah weighs - sixteen barley-grains.
6)
(a)What is the minimum that one may give to each Kohen?
(b)What does 'Meluban ve'Lo Tzo'i' mean?
(c)Does this mean that the Yisrael is obligated to wash the wool before giving it to the Kohen?
(d)And what does the Tana mean when he says ' ... sufficient to manufacture from it a small garment'?
(e)How does he learn this from the Pasuk in Parshas Shoftim "Ki bo Bachar Hash-m Elokecha ... La'amod Leshareis"?
6)
(a)The minimum that one may give to each Kohen (See Tosfos Yom Tov) is - the weight of five Sela'im in Yehudah, which is equivalent to ten in Galil.
(b)'Meluban ve'Lo Tzo'i' means - washed clean and not dirty.
(c)This does mean that the Yisrael is obligated to wash the wool before giving it to the Kohen - but that he must give him wool which weighs at least five Sela'im after it has been washed.
(d)And when the Tana says ' ... sufficient to manufacture from it a small garment', he means - the smallest of garments which a Kohen wears in the service of Hash-m (the belt [See Tiferes Yisrael]) ...
(e)... which he learns from the fact that - the Pasuk in Parshas Shoftim "Ki bo Bachar Hash-m Elokecha ... La'amod *Leshareis*" is juxtaposed next to the Pasuk of Reishis ha'Gez.
7)
(a)What minimum fraction of one's total shearings did the Chachamim fix that the owner must give for Resishis ha'Gez?
(b)How much wool must each sheep produce in order to be Chayav?
(c)What if one of the sheep produces less than that, but the shearings of the five sheep nevertheless total more than sixty Sela'im?
7)
(a)The minimum fraction of one's total shearings that the Chachamim fixed that the owner must give for Resishis ha'Gez is - one sixtieth.
(b)In order to be Chayav, each sheep must produce - at least twelve Sela (a fifth of the minumum total of sixty Sela'im).
(c)If one of the sheep produces less than that - the owner is Patur from Reishis ha'Gez, even if the shearings of the five sheep total more than sixty Sela'im
8)
(a)What will be the Din if, before giving Reishis ha'Gez to the Kohen, the owner ...
1. ... dyes the wool?
2. ... bleaches it? Why is that?
(b)On what principle is the former ruling based?
(c)To what can the case now be compared?
8)
(a)If, before giving Reishis ha'Gez to the Kohen the owner ...
1. ... dyes the wool - he is Patur from Reishis ha'Gez, but if he only ...
2. ... bleaches it - he is Chayav (since bleaching is not considered a Shinuy).
(b)The former ruling is based on the principle - 'Shinuy Koneh' (changing an article constitutes a Kinyan).
(c)The case can now be compared to - someone who damages or eats Matnos Kehunah and who is Patur from paying (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
9)
(a)What does the Mishnah say about someone who purchases from a Nochri the shearings of his sheep?
(b)From which Pasuk does he learn it?
(c)On what condition does Reuven remain obligated to give Reishis ha'Gez if he sells his wool to Shimon?
(d)Why is that?
(e)On what grounds must Shimon give Reishis ha'Gez, if Reuven sells him all the wool?
9)
(a)The Mishnah rules that someone who purchases from a Nochri the shearings of his sheep - is exempts from Reishis ha'Gez ...
(b)... because the Torah writes in Parshas Shoftim - "ve'Reishis Gez *Tzoncha*".
(c)If Reuven sells wool to Shimon, he remains obligated to give Reishis ha'Gez - provided he keeps some back for himself ...
(d)... since Shimon can say to him that the wool that he has retained is the wool that is due to the Kohen (See also Tosfos Yom Tov).
(e)If, on the other hand, Reuven sells Shimon all the wool, then it is up to Shimon to give Reishis ha'Gez - because Reuven can say to him that he did not sell him what was due to the Kohen.
10)
(a)The Tana now discusses a case where Reuven sells Shimon Shechufos but not his white sheep, or the sheep but not the ewes. What are 'Shechufos'?
(b)What does he rule in these two cases?
(c)What is the difference between the fleece of ...
1. ... white sheep and that of gray sheep?
2. ... sheep and the fleece of ewes?
10)
(a)The Tana now discusses a case where Reuven sells Shimon 'Shechufos' - gray sheep but not his white sheep, or the sheep but not the ewes.
(b)He rules in these two cases - that each one must give Reishis ha'Gez from the wool that he has.
(c)The fleece of ...
1. ... white sheep - is better quality than that of gray sheep.
2. ... sheep - is not as soft as the fleece of ewes.
