Color Code: Case: Black; Ruling: Green or Red; Name of Tanna: Gold; Reason: Blue; Condition: Purple; Proof: Grey ; Rule: Fuscia
Chapter 11
The Eleventh Chapter of Mesechtas Chullin, all two Mishnayos, discusses the singular Mitzvah of giving the Kohein a portion of the wool shorn from ones sheep. The Torah teaches,
רֵאשִׁ֨ית דְּגָֽנְךָ֜ תִּֽירֹשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֗ךָ וְרֵאשִׁ֛ית גֵּ֥ז צֹאנְךָ֖ תִּתֶּן־לּֽוֹ׃
Our perek will describe who is obligated and when, how much is required t give and some exemptions from the Mitzvah.
Mishnah 11:1
The first Mishnah in our Perek simply sets forth the basic Mitzvah of Reishis HaGez. In comparing this Mistzvah with the Matnos Kehuna of the prior chapter, the Mishnah notes that the Mitzvah of REishis HaGez is more limited as it only applies to sheep and only when you have a sufficient number of sheep.
רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז נוֹהֵג
בָּאָרֶץ וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ,
בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת וְשֶׁלֹּא בִפְנֵי הַבַּיִת,
בְּחֻלִּין אֲבָל לֹא בְמֻקְדָּשִׁין.
חֹמֶר בַּזְּרוֹעַ וּבַלְּחָיַיִם וּבַקֵּבָה מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז,
שֶׁהַזְּרוֹעַ וְהַלְּחָיַיִם וְהַקֵּבָה נוֹהֲגִים בְּבָקָר וּבְצֹאן, בִּמְרֻבֶּה וּבְמֻעָט,
וְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז אֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג אֶלָּא בִרְחֵלוֹת, וְאֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג אֶלָּא בִמְרֻבֶּה:
(1) The law of the first of the fleece is in force both within the Land and outside it, both during the existence of the Temple and after it, in respect of unconsecrated animals but not consecrated animals. The law of the shoulder and the cheeks and the stomach is of stricter application than the law of the first of the fleece; for the law of the shoulder and the cheeks and the stomach applies both to herds and flocks, whether they are many or few, whereas the law of the first of the fleece applies only to sheep, and only when there are many.
Mishnah 11:2
Our Mishna, sets out the basic rules regarding the Mitzvah of Reishis HaGez. All agree it does not apply to a single sheep, nevertheless, there is a dispute as to how many sheep it does apply to and whether there is a minimum of wool that they must collectively produce.
Second, the Mishnah discusses how much one must give and in what state the wool must bein when giving it to the Kohein. Finally, the Mishnah sets forth the rules when purchasing wool from another and who is responsible, if anyone, to give the Reishis HaGez.
וְכַמָּה הוּא מְרֻבֶּה.
בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים, שְׁתֵּי רְחֵלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ז), יְחַיֶּה אִישׁ עֶגְלַת בָּקָר וּשְׁתֵּי צֹאן.
וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, חָמֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א כה), חָמֵשׁ צֹאן עֲשׂוּיוֹת.
רַבִּי דוֹסָא בֶּן הַרְכִּינָס אוֹמֵר, חָמֵשׁ רְחֵלוֹת גּוֹזְזוֹת מָנֶה מָנֶה וּפְרָס, חַיָּבוֹת בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז.
וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, חָמֵשׁ רְחֵלוֹת גּוֹזְזוֹת כָּל שֶׁהֵן.
וְכַמָּה נוֹתְנִין לוֹ. מִשְׁקַל חָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים בִּיהוּדָה, שֶׁהֵן עֶשֶׂר סְלָעִים בַּגָּלִיל,
מְלֻבָּן וְלֹא צוֹאִי,
כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת מִמֶּנּוּ בֶגֶד קָטָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח), תִּתֶּן לוֹ, שֶׁיְּהֵא בוֹ כְדֵי מַתָּנָה.
לֹא הִסְפִּיק לִתְּנוֹ לוֹ עַד שֶׁצְּבָעוֹ, פָּטוּר.
לִבְּנוֹ וְלֹא צְבָעוֹ, חַיָּב.
הַלּוֹקֵחַ גֵּז צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל נָכְרִי, פָּטוּר מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז.
הַלּוֹקֵחַ גֵּז צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ,
אִם שִׁיֵּר הַמּוֹכֵר, הַמּוֹכֵר חַיָּב.
לֹא שִׁיֵּר, הַלּוֹקֵחַ חַיָּב.
הָיוּ לוֹ שְׁנֵי מִינִים, שְׁחוּפוֹת וּלְבָנוֹת,
מָכַר לוֹ שְׁחוּפוֹת אֲבָל לֹא לְבָנוֹת, זְכָרִים אֲבָל לֹא נְקֵבוֹת,
זֶה נוֹתֵן לְעַצְמוֹ וְזֶה נוֹתֵן לְעַצְמוֹ:
(2) How much is “many”? Bet Shammai say: [at least] two sheep, as it is said, “A man shall rear a young cow and two sheep (tzon)” (Isaiah 7:21). Bet Hillel say: five, as it is said, “Five dressed sheep (tzon)” (I Samuel 28:18). Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinas says: five sheep, which each produce [a fleece which weighs] a maneh and a half, are subject to the law of the first of the fleece. But the sages say: five sheep, whatever their fleeces weigh. And how much should one give him? The weight of five selas in Judah, which is equal to ten selas in Galilee. Bleached wool and not dirty wool, sufficient to make from it a small garment, for it is written, “Give him,” when there is enough to be considered a gift. If the owner did not manage to give [the fleece to the priest] until he dyed it, he is exempt. If he bleached it but did not dye it, he is still liable. If a man bought the fleeces of a flock belonging to a non-Jew, he is exempt from the law of the first of the fleece. If a man bought the fleeces of a flock belonging to his neighbor: If the seller kept some back, the seller is liable, But if he did not withhold anything, the buyer is liable. If he had two kinds of wool, grey and white, and he sold the grey but not the white, or [if he sold the wool] of the males but not of the females, each must give [the first of the fleece] for himself.