This source sheet is part of a series of source sheets providing background for Mishnayos Chullin. The series can be found here.
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.
Sources for Mishnah 11:1
The Reishis HaGez may be given to any Kohein. See Mishnah Challah 4:9.
(ט) וְאֵלּוּ נִתָּנִין לְכָל כֹּהֵן, הַחֲרָמִים, וְהַבְּכוֹרוֹת, וּפִדְיוֹן הַבֵּן, וּפִדְיוֹן פֶּטֶר חֲמוֹר, וְהַזְּרוֹעַ, וְהַלְּחָיַיִם, וְהַקֵּבָה, וְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז, וְשֶׁמֶן שְׂרֵפָה, וְקָדְשֵׁי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְהַבִּכּוּרִים. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹסֵר בַּבִּכּוּרִים. כַּרְשִׁינֵי תְרוּמָה, רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מַתִּיר וַחֲכָמִים אוֹסְרִים:
(9) These may be given to any priest:Devoted things (haramim); Firstlings; The redemption of the first born; The [lamb substituted as] ransom for the firstling of a donkey; The shoulder, the two cheeks and the maw; The first of the fleece; Oil [fit only] for burning; Consecrated food [which must be eaten] within the Temple; And bikkurim. Rabbi Judah prohibits bikkurim. Vetches of terumah: Rabbi Akiva permits, But the sages prohibit.
As noted in our Mishnah, the Mitzvah of Reishis HaGez is of narrower construction than the Zroah, Leichayim and Keiva. The Mishnah in Nidah 6:7 states the same.
(ז) כֹּל שֶׁחַיָּב בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז, חַיָּב בַּמַּתָּנוֹת. וְיֵשׁ שֶׁחַיָּב בַּמַּתָּנוֹת וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז:
(7) Whatever [beast] is subject to the laws of the first of the fleece is also subject to that of the priestly gifts. But there may be [a beast] that is subject to the law of the priestly gifts and not to that of the first of the fleece.
Sources for Mishnah 6:2
Our Mishnah notes a dispute as to how many sheep one must have in order to be obligated in the Mitzvah of Reishis HaGez. The Mishnah in Eduyos 3:3 notes two disputes between the Chachomim and Rabi Dosa, one of them being the same as in our Mishnah.
(ג) מְעֵי אֲבַטִּיחַ וּקְנִיבַת יָרָק שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה, רַבִּי דוֹסָא מַתִּיר לְזָרִים, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹסְרִין. חָמֵשׁ רְחֵלוֹת גְּזוּזוֹת מָנֶה מָנֶה וּפְרַס, חַיָּבוֹת בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי דוֹסָא. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, חָמֵשׁ רְחֵלוֹת כָּל שֶׁהֵן:
(3) The insides of a melon and the discarded leaves of a vegetable of terumah: Rabbi Dosa permits [their] use to non-priests, and the Sages forbid it. Five ewes, their fleeces weighing each a mina and a half, are subject to [the law of] the first of the fleece, according to Rabbi Dosa. But the Sages say: “Five ewes [are subject] whatever [their fleeces weigh].”