Return to Jewish Roots

There is another declaration mentioned in the Torah, that is made twice every seven years. It is known as “וידוי מעשרות,”the confession of the tithes.

The reason why it takes place so seldomly is because it takes three years to finish the various tithing obligations. Specifically, there is a tithe given in the third and sixth year of the Shmitta cycle. This is know as מעשר עני, the tithe for the poor. We are about to begin the third year of this cycle, after Rosh Hashanah. There is a rabbinic obligation in Eretz Yisrael today, to take off the various obligations of Teruma and Maaser on fruits and vegetables. All of the major supermarkets take care of this obligation for us. There are certificates posted, that guarantee that these tithes have already been taken.

If we have our own garden and fruit trees, we need to do this tithing ourselves.

Therefore, on Pesach after the third and sixth year (which would be Passover 2026 and 2030) a declaration is made affirming that we meticulously followed all the rules of tithing, down to the last detail.

One of the verses mentioned in the Torah, includes the words, “I have not transgressed Your commandments and I have not forgotten.” This is an amazing statement that the confessor is making.

Contrast this with Moshe’s warning that the Torah must not be forgotten from Israel. There was a time, according to the Meam Loez, that every Jew knew the Five Books of Moses by heart, all the way through the First Temple period. How many Jews today would have the knowledge to make such a declaration?

Perhaps there is some comfort in knowing that there is a prophecy that says that in the end of days, there will be a famine in the land. It will not be a famine for bread and water. But it will be a famine to hear the word of G-d.

We pray that all Jews return to their roots and diligently study the Torah. They will all be able to make the declaration that they did not transgress even one Mitzva.