Pisqa’ 691
1
“And you shall rejoice” (Dt.12:12)—
the term rejoice is mentioned here,
and the term rejoice is mentioned elsewhere (viz., Dt.27:7).
Just as the rejoicing mentioned elsewhere
is [aroused by eating] the Communion-offering,
so, too, the rejoicing mentioned here
is [aroused by eating] the Communion-offering.
“Before HASHEM your God” (Dt.12:12)—
in the partitioned area
[within Jerusalem’s walls, set aside for the consumption of
Lesser-Holy offerings].
“You, your sons, your daughters, and your slaves, and your slave-girls” (Dt.12:12)—
in [the listing of] these dependants, the most precious take precedence.
“And the Levite who is within your gates” (Dt.12:12).
Anywhere you find this Levite2
the instruction is: Give him his portion,
[the First-tithe (ma`aser ri’shon)].
If he can’t survive on his portion,
then sustain him from the Pauper’s-tithe (ma`aser `oni; Dt.14:28-29).
If he can’t survive on the Pauper’s-tithe,
then sustain him from Communion-offerings (shelamim).3