[31a - 30 lines; 31b - 45 lines]
1)[line 2]כיון דאחתאKEIVAN D'ACHTA- as soon as it is placed down
2)[line 4]פשוטי כלי עץPESHUTEI KLEI ETZ - Wooden utensils that do not have a receptacle
(a)The Torah teaches (Vayikra 11:32) that vessels made of certain types of material become Tamei when they come into contact with a Mes or a Sheretz.
(b)Vessels made of wood, fabric (wool, linen, canvas, etc.), leather, sack (made of goat hair), and bone do not become Tamei through contact with a Mes or Sheretz unless they have a receptacle (that is, the vessel must be made in such a way that it can be filled with another object or liquid). This Halachah is derived from a Hekesh which compares the above mentioned materials to a sack, which always has a receptacle to hold things (Gemara Chagigah 26b). Therefore, wooden utensils that do not have a receptacle ("Peshutei Klei Etz") cannot become Tamei with Tum'as Mes or Tum'as Sheretz.
3)[line 8]מצות לאו ליהנות ניתנוMITZVOS LAV LEIHANOS NITNU - Mitzvos were not given for the benefit derived from them
(a)The Torah classifies many objects as Isurei Hana'ah (items from which it is prohibited to benefit), such as Orlah (see Background to Berachos 36:15), Kil'ei ha'Kerem (see Background to Eruvin 3:18), Eglah Arufah (see Background to Eruvin 35:19), Tziporei Metzora (see Background to Nidah 70:1), a Nazir's hair (see Background to Eruvin 4:15), Shor ha'Niskal (see Background to Nidah 8:4), Avodah Zarah (see Background to Shabbos 82:35), Ir ha'Nidachas (see Background to Kerisus 24:7), Peter Chamor (see Introduction to Bechoros 1:III), Basar b'Chalav (see Background to Chulin 103:6), Chulin she'Nishchetu ba'Azarah (see Background to Temurah 33:5) and a dead body (see Gemara Avodah Zarah 29b) and its grave or shrouds (Gemara Sanhedrin 47b).
(b)The Amora'im argue as to whether it is possible to perform a Mitzvah using one of the objects listed above (Rosh ha'Shanah 28a, Chulin 89a). Does the performance of a Mitzvah constitute "benefit" which is forbidden? Rava rules that the Torah does not include the performance of a Mitzvah in the prohibition of deriving benefit from Isurei Hana'ah. Rather, Mitzvos are required obligations which are thrust upon us, and they are not done for our "benefit." Therefore, performing a Mitzvah with one of the Isurei Hana'ah is permissible.
(c)One exception to this ruling is that even according to the opinion that Mitzvos may not be described as "benefit," performing a Mitzvah using Avodah Zarah is nevertheless prohibited. Avodah Zarah is disgusting before HaSh-m and it is not proper to use it in the performance of a Mitzvah.
4)[line 23]דמאיDEMAI
(a)Produce bought from an Am ha'Aretz (an unlearned Jew who is lax in his Torah-observance - see Berachos 47b) is referred to as Demai ("Da Mai?" - "what is this?").
(b)Terumas Ma'aser, and Ma'aser Sheni must be separated from this produce since a minority of Amei ha'Aretz cannot be trusted to have separated them before selling it. Terumah Gedolah, however, (because of its stringency) is presumed to have been separated. Ma'aser Rishon and Ma'aser Ani are separated from the produce, but eaten by the owner (in keeping with the principle "ha'Motzi me'Chaveiro Alav ha'Re'ayah").
5)[line 23]מעשר ראשוןMA'ASER RISHON
(a)After a crop is harvested and brought to the owner's house or yard, he must separate Terumah from the crop and give it to a Kohen. Although the Torah does not specify the amount to be given, the Rabanan set the requirement at one fiftieth of the total crop.
(b)After Terumah is removed from the produce, the first tithe to be given every year is called Ma'aser Rishon; one tenth of the produce must be given to a Levi.
6)[line 24]מעשר שניMA'ASER SHENI
(a)A second tithe is given every year after Ma'aser Rishon has been separated. The tithe that is separated in the third and sixth years of the 7-year Shemitah cycle is called Ma'aser Ani and is given to the poor.
(b)The tithe that is separated during the first, second, fourth and fifth years is called Ma'aser Sheni. The Torah requires that Ma'aser Sheni be brought and eaten by its owner in Yerushalayim.
(c)Alternatively, Ma'aser Sheni produce may be redeemed, in which case the money used to redeem it is brought to Yerushalayim. If the owner himself redeems the produce, he must add an additional fifth (of the ensuing total, or a quarter of the original value). The food which is bought with that money in Yerushalayim becomes Kodesh like Ma'aser Sheni and must be eaten b'Taharah. Ma'aser Sheni that was redeemed by anyone besides the owner is exempt from the fifth.
7)[line 25]והכהנים בחלהV'HA'KOHANIM B'CHALAH- this follows the opinion of Sumchus, that an Eruv must be made with a food that the person can eat
8)[line 25]חלהCHALAH
Whenever a person kneads a dough made from one of the five species of grain (wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt), he must separate a small portion to be given to the Kohen (Bamidbar 15:17-21). This portion is called Chalah. The requirement to separate Chalah with a Berachah only applies to a dough made from the volume of 43.2 Beitzim of flour (about 10 1/2 cups or 2.48 liters). An amount about half that much requires Chalah to be separated without a Berachah. A baker must separate 1/48 of his dough as Chalah, while a normal homeowner must separate 1/24.
31b----------------------------------------31b
9)[line 1]אכסניאACHSANYA- (a) a Jewish army (RASHI here and in Berachos 47a); (b) a Jewish guest (TOSFOS Berachos ibid. DH u'Ma'achilin, RAMBAM Hilchos Ma'aser 10:11); (c) a non-Jewish army (TOSFOS Berachos ibid. and Eruvin 17b DH v'Es)
10)[line 5]הקדימו בשבליןHIKDIMO B'SHIBOLIN - he came early [and collected his Ma'aser from] the stalks (MA'ASER: EARLY SEPERATION)
(a)By Torah Law, a person is required to tithe his grain only if he harvests it in a normal manner. This includes completing the stalk-to-grain process in the field, piling up the grain there and bringing it through the front door of his house (Berachos 35b). It is then Hukba l'Ma'aser (designated for tithing). He must separate Terumah Gedolah from the crop and give it to a Kohen. Although the Torah does not specify the amount to be given, the Rabanan set the requirement at one fiftieth of the total crop.
(b)After Terumah Gedolah is removed from the produce, the first tithe to be given every year is called Ma'aser Rishon; one tenth of the produce must be given to a Levi. The Levi, in turn, must separate one tenth of his Ma'aser Rishon as Terumas Ma'aser, to be given to a Kohen (Bamidbar 18:26).
(c)If a Levi came to the field and claimed the Ma'aser Rishon from the stalks, before the grain was separated, the requirement to give Terumah Gedolah is canceled, as Reish Lakish proves from the wording of the verse (ibid.).
11)[line 15]האי אידגןHAI IDGAN- this one (the Kri), was heaped into a pile, classifying it as Dagan, which necessitates separating Terumah Gedolah, as the verse (Devarim 18:4) states regarding Terumah Gedolah, "Reshis Degancha... Titen Lo" - "You should give him the first [part that you separate] from your produce"
12)[line 20]זרעו בעציץ שאינו נקובZERA'O B'ATZITZ SHE'EINO NAKUV- if he planted it in a pot without a drainage hole (and received no sustenance from the ground underneath)
13)[line 22]שהקדימו בכריSHE'HIKDIMO B'KRI - he came early [and collected his Ma'aser from] the pile (MA'ASER: EARLY SEPERATION)
(a)By Torah Law, a person is required to tithe his grain only if he harvests it in a normal manner. This includes completing the stalk-to-grain process in the field, piling up the grain there and bringing it through the front door of his house (Berachos 35b). It is then Hukba l'Ma'aser (designated for tithing). He must separate Terumah Gedolah from the crop and give it to a Kohen. Although the Torah does not specify the amount to be given, the Rabanan set the requirement at one fiftieth of the total crop.
(b)After Terumah Gedolah is removed from the produce, the first tithe to be given every year is called Ma'aser Rishon; one tenth of the produce must be given to a Levi. The Levi, in turn, must separate one tenth of his Ma'aser Rishon as Terumas Ma'aser, to be given to a Kohen (Bamidbar 18:26).
(c)If a Levi came to the field and claimed the Ma'aser Rishon from the Kri (the pile of grain), he must give Terumah Gedolah to a Kohen, since the requirement to give Terumah Gedolah exists as soon as the produce is classified as Dagan, as the verse (Devarim 18:4) states, "Reshis Degancha... Titen Lo" - "You should give him the first [part that you separate] from your produce."
14)[line 28]אסימוןASIMON- a blank; a metal disc from which a coin is stamped
15)[line 29]צורהTZURAH- a design