Terumos And Maaser

Purchase of Israeli Produce

Israeli produce has started to find it’s way into the local produce market. The most prominent items are red, orange and yellow peppers. Sometimes the stickers will say ’Product of Israel’. However, we have found that this is not consistent. Check with the produce manager if you are unsure. In order to encourage the consumer to buy Israeli produce we have listed the correct procedure for the separation of Terumos and Ma’asros. The separation should be done by someone who is bar/bas mitzvah. This procedure is for a single ingredient food ie. peppers, tomatoes etc. The procedure can only be done on a weekday, not on a Shabbos or Yom Tov.

1. The produce should be placed in front of you.
2. Cut off a piece slightly larger than 1/100 of the total produce in front of you (it can be larger, but not smaller). ex. On 100 peppers separate one whole pepper and a small section of a second one.
3. Have a nickel, dime or quarter in front of you.
4. Say the following:
   • On the north side of the piece that I separated, the amount that is greater than 1% of the total amount of produce shall be Terumah Gedolah.
   • The remainder of the separated piece plus nine other parts from the north side of the food itself shall be Ma’aser Rishon.
   • That same remainder of the separated piece that I previously set aside as Ma’aser Rishon, shall now be Terumas Ma’aser.
   • On the south side of the food itself Ma’aser Sheni or Ma’aser A’ni shall take effect, depending on the year of the Sh’mita cycle that the produce was grown.
   • If the separation on the south side is Ma’aser Sheni then I am redeeming it plus 25% of it’s value onto the coin in front of me.
   • If the food is subject to the laws of Neta Revai, then I am redeeming it plus 25% it’s value onto the coin in front of me.
5. The cut off piece and the coin should be wrapped and discarded.
6. The food may now be eaten.