מסכת מנחות פרק ח משנה א
כָּל קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר וְהַיָּחִיד בָּאִים מִן הָאָרֶץ, וּמִחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, מִן הֶחָדָשׁ, וּמִן הַיָּשָׁן, חוּץ מִן הָעֹמֶר וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם, שֶׁאֵינָן בָּאִים אֶלָּא מִן הֶחָדָשׁ וּמִן הָאָרֶץ. וְכֻלָּן אֵינָן בָּאִים אֶלָּא מִן הַמֻּבְחָר. וְאֵיזֶהוּ מֻבְחָר? מִכְמָס וּמְזוֹנִיחָה אַלְפָא לַסֹּלֶת. שְׁנִיָּה לָהֶם חֲפָרַיִם בַּבִּקְעָה. כָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת הָיוּ כְּשֵׁרוֹת, אֶלָּא מִכָּאן הָיוּ מְבִיאִים.
All offerings of the congregation or of the individual may be brought from the [produce of the] land of Israel or from outside the land, from the most recent grain harvest or from the old, except the omer and the Two Loaves, which may be brought only from the new grain and from the [produce of the]Land. And all may come only from the choicest. [translation by Rafael Fisch, p. 82 Eliner Library version, Maor Wallach Press, Jerusalem, 1994]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. To whom does the choicest harvest belong? Us or G-d?
2. Why do we offer our choicest harvest to G-d? Why not keep it for ourselves?
3. What else in the physical world might Judaism consider holy? How should we treat these holy things?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)