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One of the topics that was discussed in the sixth perek of Masechet Yevamot was how the relationships that a woman has affect her ability to marry a kohen, and similarly whether she will be able to eat terumah – the tithes that are permitted only to a kohen and to members of his household.
Although this topic has little direct connection to Masechet Yevamot, nevertheless, the seventh perek, which begins on our daf, is devoted to clarification of this issue.
The basic rule of thumb with regard to eating terumah is that all members of a Kohen’s household can eat, not only his wife and children, but also his slaves and even animals that he owns (see Vayikra 22:11-13). This is true of animals that are kinyan kaspo – that the kohen has purchased and owns. If, however, the kohen was responsible for the animal, but did not actually own it, then he cannot feed it terumah.
Thus, the Gemara on our daf quotes a Mishnah in Terumot (11:9) according to which a kohen who rents an animal from another Jew who is not a kohen will not be allowed to feed it karshinei terumah, even though a Jew who is not a kohen would be allowed to feed karshinei terumah to an animal rented from a kohen.
We examine the basic rules of usufruct in late antiquity and as recently as an Israeli Supreme court ruling.