Hallo there, I would like to gain further - דעת - לימודי יהדות באור החסידות

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Hallo there, I would like to gain further

The Rav Name: Rabbis of the Da’at Institute

Hallo there, I would like to gain further understanding on the tithing and offering as written in the Bible and as per the Jewish teachings.
Shalom

Shalom and thank you for your question.

There are two topics you mention, tithing and offering. There are many laws connected with these matters but an extremely brief explanation is that in Biblical times, a tenth of agricultural produce and livestock had to be separated and given to the poor, and to the Levites, who had not received land for cultivation, because their role was to serve in the Temple.

The Levites in turn tithed what they received and gave it to the priests (Cohanim). The Levites and the priests provided the spiritual framework for the nation, and the tithes from the nation sustained them.

Offerings, (or sacrifices) were brought to the Temple to create a bond between the individual and the Creator.

There were offerings for various purposes, such as regular daily offerings – the most basic connection to G-d, thanksgiving offerings, atonement offerings, Sabbath and festival offerings, and more.

The Hebrew term for offering is ‘Korban’, coming from the root ‘karov’, meaning close. The idea was to have a close relationship with G-d.

Today, since we don’t have the Temple, we serve G-d through prayer, especially communal prayer when possible, and through carrying out the commandments of the Torah.

Agricultural produce is tithed in a symbolic way today, and ten percent of monetary income is given as tithe to charity.

The Torah tells us that when we tithe, we draw down blessings of abundance.

Sources

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Hallo there, I would like to gain further

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