משנה מסכת דמאי פרק ג משנה א
מאכילין את העניים דמאי ואת האכסני' דמאי רבן גמליאל היה מאכיל את פועליו דמאי גבאי צדקה בית שמאי אומרים נותנין את המעושר לשאינו מעשר ואת שאינו מעושר למעשר נמצאו כל האדם אוכלין מתוקן וחכמים אומרים גובין סתם ומחלקין סתם והרוצה לתקן יתקן
One may give demai (questionably tithed) [produce] for food to the poor and to passing troops (wayfarers). Rabban Gamliel used to give demai for food to his workmen. As for collectors of charity, Beit Shammai say: They should give tithed [produce] to persons who do not tithe and untithed [produce] to persons who do tithe. It will thus result that everyone will be eating [produce] that has been set right. But the Sages say: They may collect indeterminately and distribute indeterminately, and whoever [of the recipients] wishes to set right (i.e., tithe) [his portion] may do so. [trans. Soncino with notes in parentheses]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1) What is the relationship between wayfarers and the poor? and workers?
2) Why is it okay for individuals to feed ritually questionable food to needy people? Does this assert the importance of tzedakah or undermine the dignity of the poor?
3) Why might this requirement be different for communal Tzedakah collectors than for individuals? What is the reasoning behind Beit Shammai's position? The position of the Sages?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)