Sheqel Dues Chapter 4

תְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה מַה יֵּעָשֶׂה בָּהּ. לוֹקְחִין מִמֶּנָּה תְּמִידִין שֶׁל כָּל יוֹם וְהַמּוּסָפִין וְכָל קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם וְהַמֶּלַח שֶׁמּוֹלְחִין בּוֹ כָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. וְכֵן הָעֵצִים אִם לֹא הֵבִיאוּ עֵצִים וְלֹא נִמְצְאוּ אֶלָּא בְּדָמִים. וְהַקְּטֹרֶת וּשְׂכַר עֲשִׂיָּתָהּ. וְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים וּשְׂכַר עוֹשֵׂי לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים. וְהָעֹמֶר וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם וּפָרָה אֲדֻמָּה וְשָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ וְלָשׁוֹן שֶׁל זְהוֹרִית שֶׁקּוֹשְׁרִין בֵּין קַרְנָיו. כָּל אֵלּוּ בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה:

What is done with the Temple fund? It is used for the purchase of the daily offerings, the additional offerings, and all other public offerings with their libations, as well as the salt with which all sacrifices were salted, and the firewood, if it has not been brought as a gift and is obtainable only for money. And the incense and the wage of its makers; the showbread and the wage of those that made the showbread; the omer (barley offering); the two breads; the red heifer; the scapegoat; and the crimson strip that we tie between its horns. All of these come from the appropriation of the chamber.

אֲבָל פַּר הֶעְלֵם דָּבָר שֶׁל צִבּוּר וּשְׂעִירֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בַּתְּחִלָּה גּוֹבִין לָהֶן וְאֵינָן בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. פָּרוֹכוֹת שֶׁל הֵיכָל תַּחַת בִּנְיָן עֲשׂוּיוֹת וְאֵינָן בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה אֶלָּא מִקָּדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת. אֲבָל פָּרוֹכוֹת שֶׁל שְׁעָרִים בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. הַמְּנוֹרָה וּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת מִצְוָתָן שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ מִמּוֹתַר הַנְּסָכִים. וּבְהִלְכוֹת כְּלֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהָעוֹבְדִים בּוֹ יִתְבָּאֵר מַה הוּא מוֹתַר הַנְּסָכִים. וְאִם לֹא הָיָה לָהֶן מוֹתַר נְסָכִים יָבִיאוּ מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה בֵּין בִּגְדֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בֵּין שְׁאָר בִּגְדֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים שֶׁעוֹבְדִין בָּהֶן בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ הַכּל מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה:

But we collect the [monies for] a bull of communal forgetting and goats [to atone for] idolatry at the outset; and they do not come from the appropriation of the chamber. The curtains for the [Temple] chamber were made instead of a [part of the Temple] structure, so they do not come from the appropriation of the chamber, but rather from the consecrated property of Temple upkeep; but the curtaions of the gates come from the appropriation of the chamber. The [stipulations] of the commandment of the menorah and the [other] service vessels is that they should come from the remnant of the libations. And what the remnant of the libation is will be explained in the Laws of the Temple Vessels and Those who Serve Therein. But if they did not have a remnant of the libations for them, they should bring [their funds] from the appropriation of the chamber. Garments of the priests – whether the garments of the high priest or the rest of the garments of the priests with which they served in the Temple – all of it is from the appropriation of the chamber.

כָּל הַבְּהֵמוֹת הַנִּמְצָאוֹת בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם אוֹ בְּחוּצָה לָהּ בְּקָרוֹב מִמֶּנָּה בָּאוֹת עוֹלוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בִּפְסוּלֵי הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁין. נִסְכֵּיהֶן בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. וְכֵן עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁשָּׁלַח עוֹלָתוֹ מִמְּדִינָה אַחֶרֶת וְלֹא שָׁלַח עִמָּהּ דְּמֵי נְסָכִים יָבִיאוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶם מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה:

All [fit] animals found in Jerusalem or close outside of it are offered as burnt-offerings – as will be explained in [the Laws of] Sacrifices Rendered Unfit. [And] their libations are brought from the appropriation of the chamber. And likewise [if] an idolater sent a burnt-offering from a different province but did not send the value of [its] libations – they would bring its libations from the appropriation of the chamber.

גֵּר שֶׁמֵּת וְהִנִּיחַ זְבָחִים אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ נְסָכִים קְרֵבִין מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וְאִם לָאו בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁמֵּת וְלֹא מִנּוּ אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו מַקְרִיבִין אֶת הַחֲבִיתִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. מְבַקְּרֵי מוּמִים שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים הַמְלַמְּדִים הִלְכוֹת שְׁחִיטָה לַכֹּהֲנִים וְהִלְכוֹת קְמִיצָה וְנָשִׁים הַמְגַדְּלוֹת בְּנֵיהֶן לְפָרָה אֲדֻמָּה כֻּלָּן נוֹטְלִין שְׂכָרָן מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. וְכַמָּה הוּא שְׂכָרָן. כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּפְסְקוּ לָהֶן בֵּית דִּין:

[In a case of] a convert that died and left over sacrifices: If he has libations [to accompany the sacrifices], we bring them from him. But if not, they came from the appropriation of the chamber. [In a case of] a high priest that died, and they did not [yet] appoint another in his place: We offer the griddle cakes (which the high priest would otherwise offer daily) from the appropriation of the chamber. Those who examine blemishes [of sacrifices] in Jerusalem; Torah scholars that teach the laws of slaughtering to the priests and the laws of pinching [the meal offering]; and women raising their sons for the red heifer – all of them would take their wage from the appropriation of the chamber. And how much was their wage? According to that which the court determined for them.

בִּשְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה שֶׁהִיא הֶפְקֵר שׂוֹכְרִין בֵּית דִּין שׁוֹמְרִין שֶׁיִּשְׁמְרוּ מִקְצָת סְפִיחִים שֶׁצָּמְחוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּבִיאוּ מֵהֶן הָעֹמֶר וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם שֶׁאֵין בָּאִים אֶלָּא מִן הֶחָדָשׁ. וְאֵלּוּ הַשּׁוֹמְרִין נוֹטְלִין שְׂכָרָן מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה:

In the sabbatical year – which is [a time when all produce is] ownerless – the court hires [agents] to guard a little of the natural growth, that it should grow in order that they can bring the omer from them; [as well as] the two breads, which may only come from the new [grain]. And these guards take their wages from the appropriation of the chamber.

מִי שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב לִשְׁמֹר בְּחִנָּם אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ מִשּׁוּם בַּעֲלֵי זְרוֹעַ שֶׁמָּא יָבוֹאוּ וְיִטְּלוּם מֵהֶן. לְפִיכָךְ תִּקְּנוּ לָהֶם חֲכָמִים שֶׁיִּטְּלוּ שָׂכָר מִן הַלִּשְׁכָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפְרְשׁוּ הַכּל מֵאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵלּוּ שׁוֹמְרִים שָׁם:

We do not listen to one who volunteers to guard for free, on account of the thugs – lest they come and take them from him. Hence the Sages ordained for them that they take their wage from the chamber – in order that all would (know about them and) separate from the place that these guards were there.

מַגִּיהֵי סְפָרִים שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְדַיָּנִין שֶׁדָּנִין אֶת הַגַּזְלָנִין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם נוֹטְלִין שְׂכָרָן מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה. וְכַמָּה הָיוּ נוֹטְלִים תִּשְׁעִים מָנֶה בְּכָל שָׁנָה. וְאִם לֹא הִסְפִּיקוּ לָהֶן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא רָצוּ מוֹסִיפִין לָהֶן כְּדֵי צָרְכָּן הֵם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וּבְנֵי בֵּיתָן:

Scribes who check Torah scrolls in Jerusalem and judges in Jerusalem who preside over cases of robbery receive their wages from terumat halishcah. How much are they paid? Ninety maneh a year. If this is not sufficient for their [needs], they are given - even against their will - an additional amount sufficient to meet their needs, those of their wives, their children, and the other members of their household.

כֶּבֶשׁ הָיוּ בּוֹנִין מֵהַר הַבַּיִת לְהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה שֶׁעָלָיו מוֹצִיאִין פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה. וְכֶבֶשׁ שֶׁמּוֹצִיאִין עָלָיו שָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ. וּשְׁנֵיהֶם נַעֲשִׂין מִשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה. וְכֵן מִזְבַּח הָעוֹלָה וְהַהֵיכָל וְהָעֲזָרוֹת נַעֲשִׂין מִשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה. אַמַּת הַמַּיִם שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְחוֹמַת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְכָל מִגְדְּלוֹתֶיהָ וְכָל צָרְכֵי הָעִיר בָּאִין מִשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה. וְעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב מָעוֹת לַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ אוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּהֶם בְּחִנָּם אֵין מְקַבְּלִין מִמֶּנּוּ וַאֲפִלּוּ גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד ג) "לֹא לָכֶם וָלָנוּ לִבְנוֹת" וְגוֹ' וְנֶאֱמַר (נחמיה ב כ) "וְלָכֶם אֵין חֵלֶק" וְגוֹ':

They would build a ramp from the Temple Mount to the Mount of [Olives] upon which they would remove the red heifer; and a ramp upon which they would remove the scapegoat. And both of them were made from the leftovers of the chamber. And likewise the sacrificial altar; the chamber; and the courtyards were made from the leftovers of the chamber. The aqueduct in Jerusalem; the wall of Jerusalem and all of its towers; and all of the needs of the city come from the leftovers of the chamber. [In a case of] an idolater that pledged money for these things or to do them for free: We do not accept it from him – even if he is a resident alien (who is not an idolater) – as it is stated (Ezra 4:3), "It is not for you and us to build, etc."; and it is [also] stated (Nehemiah 2:20), "and you have no portion, etc."

מוֹתַר תְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה וּשְׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה לוֹקְחִין בּוֹ זְכָרִים וִיקָרְבוּ כֻּלָּן עוֹלוֹת שֶׁתְּנַאי בֵּית דִּין הוּא עַל כָּל הַמּוֹתָרוֹת שֶׁיִּקְרְבוּ עוֹלַת בְּהֵמָה. אֲבָל לֹא עוֹלַת הָעוֹף שֶׁאֵין בְּקָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר עוֹף. וְאֵלּוּ הָעוֹלוֹת הַבָּאִין מִמּוֹתַר הַשְּׁקָלִים הֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים קַיִץ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

And they would purchase male [animals] with the remnant of the appropriation of the chamber and the leftovers of the chamber; and offer them all as burnt-offerings. For it is a stipulation of the court on all of the remnants, that they would [be used] to offer animal burnt-offerings. But [they would] not [purchase] burnt-offerings of fowl, since there are no fowl among the communal sacrifices. And these burnt-offerings that come from the the remnant of the shekels are called, the "dessert" of the altar.

שְׁקָלִים שֶׁלֹּא הִסְפִּיקוּ לָהֶן לְכָל קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הָרָאוּי לָהֶם מִקָּדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת. אֲבָל אֵין בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת מוֹצִיא אֶת הָרָאוּי לוֹ מִקָּדְשֵׁי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

[At a time when] the shekels did not suffice for all of the communal sacrifices, we take out what is fit for [the remainder] from the Temple upkeep. But the Temple upkeep does not release what is fit for it (its needs) from the consecrated properties of the altar.

מִשֶּׁיַגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן אֵין מַקְרִיבִין קָרְבְּנוֹת צִבּוּר אֶלָּא מִתְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה. וְאִם לֹא בָּאָה הַחֲדָשָׁה לוֹקְחִין מִן הַיְשָׁנָה. לְפִיכָךְ אִם הִגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן וְיֵשׁ עִמָּהֶן בְּהֵמוֹת לִתְמִידִים מִתְּרוּמָה יְשָׁנָה פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן וְיוֹצְאִין לְחֻלִּין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן תְּמִימִין וְיִפְּלוּ דְּמֵיהֶן לִתְרוּמָה יְשָׁנָה שֶׁמְּקִיצִין בָּהּ אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. שֶׁתְּנַאי בֵּית דִּין הוּא עַל כָּל הַבְּהֵמוֹת שֶׁלּוֹקְחִין לִתְמִידִין שֶׁאִם לֹא יִהְיוּ צְרִיכִין לָהֶן יֵצְאוּ לְחֻלִּין:

From when Rosh Chodesh of Nissan arrives, we only offer communal sacrifices from the new appropriation. But if the new has not [yet] come, we take from the old. Hence if Rosh Chodesh of Nissan arrived and they had animals for the daily sacrifice from the old appropriation, we redeem them and they go out to becoming non-consecrated – even though they are unblemished. And their cost goes to the old allocation, with which we provide "dessert" for the altar. For it is a stipulation of the court for all the animals we purchase for daily offerings – that if we do not need them, they go out to being non-consecrated.

וְכָךְ הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין בְּמוֹתַר הַקְּטֹרֶת. מִשֶּׁיַגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן מְחַלְּלִין אוֹתוֹ עַל שְׂכַר הָאֻמָּנִין וְחוֹזְרִין מָעוֹת הַשָּׂכָר לְקֵיץ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְנוֹטְלִין הָאֻמָּנִין מוֹתַר הַקְּטֹרֶת בִּשְׂכָרָן וְחוֹזְרִין וְלוֹקְחִין אֶת הַקְּטֹרֶת מֵהֶן מִתְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה כְּדֵי לְהַקְרִיבָהּ מִמְּעוֹת תְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה. וְאִם אֵין לָהֶן תְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה מַקְטִירִין אוֹתָהּ מִתְּרוּמָה יְשָׁנָה: סָלִיק לְהוּ הִלְכוֹת שְׁקָלִים

And likewise would they do with incense: From when Rosh Chodesh of Nissan arrived, they would transfer its sanctity to the wages of the craftsmen. And the money of the wages would go back to the "dessert" of the altar; and the craftsmen would take the remnant of the incense as their wage [in exchange for the money]. And then [the treasurers] would purchase the incense from them with the new allocation, in order to offer it from the money of the new allocation. But if they do not have the new allocation, they offer it from the old allocation.

The End of the Laws of the Shekels