יום ו Date: 23 Iyar, 5774 (5/23/14) – RoshHashana#15 {Tani}

Owning Up

[15a middle] Rabbah explains that the reason why an esrog fruit in its sixth year is exempt from the law of removal/tithes is because everyone’s hands touches it during the seventh year. It thereby is deemed “ownerless,” and thus not subject to the laws of ma’aser.

T’s lesson: We are only required to be accountable for that which is legally considered our own. If everyone else touches something and has their hands on it, it is not considered one’s own to be held liable for. We should strive to ensure that our materials and our possessions remain our own so we can fulfill the commandments. Just because we may find “legal loopholes,” we should never shirk responsibilities; especially if it means losing out on mitzvos.