Menachot 81

A mishnah on today’s daf continues the discussion of money used to purchase a thanksgiving offering (todah):

One who says, “It is incumbent upon me to bring a thanksgiving offering,” must bring it and its loaves from non-sacred money.

One who said, “It is incumbent upon me to bring a thanksgiving offering from non-sacred money and its loaves from second-tithe money,” he must bring the thanksgiving offering and its loaves from non-sacred money. 

If one said, “It is incumbent upon me to bring a thanksgiving offering from second-tithe money and its loaves from non-sacred money,” he may bring it in that manner. 

If one said, “It is incumbent upon me to bring a thanksgiving offering and its loaves from second-tithe money,” he may bring it in that manner. And he may not bring the loaves from second-tithe wheat; rather, he purchases the flour with second-tithe money.

Let’s break this down, clause by clause. First, the mishnah teaches that when a person makes a vow committing herself to bringing a todah, without qualification as to how she’ll bring it, both the animal and the loaves should be purchased with non-sacred money. That’s because this is the default, and ideal, means of performing the mitzvah.

The second clause elucidates for us what this “non-sacred money” is put in contrast to: second-tithe money. The second-tithe is the tenth of one’s crop that is designated for consumption in Jerusalem during the first, second, fourth and fifth years of each sabbatical cycle. This produce would ideally be brought to Jerusalem and consumed there, but if one can’t shlep the produce itself, they can redeem the produce onto its equivalent value in coins, and those coins must be used to purchase food in Jerusalem. Those coins are what we refer to as “second-tithe money.” 

The second and third clauses examine what happens if a person wishes to purchase the animal and the loaves from a combination of these sources. If one begins by saying they’re going to bring a todah from non-sacred money, and then follows it up with the stipulation that the loaves will be brought from second-tithe money, the latter stipulation doesn’t work. Rashi explains that this is because the animal sacrifice is the primary essence of the todah, and the loaves are subsidiary to it. Therefore, once a person has said they’re obligated to bring a todah from non-sacred money, they’ve obligated themself to bring both the animal and its accompanying loaves from these funds.

By contrast, if one begins by vowing to bring a todah from second-tithe money, and states that only the loaves should be bought with non-sacred money, it’s permissible to purchase these things as stipulated. Rashi explains why: Since the essence of the mitzvah involves bringing a todah from non-sacred money, when one pledges to bring the animal offering in an abnormal way — by purchasing it with second-tithe money — that doesn’t automatically drag the loaves along with it. Therefore, one is not bound to pay for the loaves from the same pot they use to pay for the animal, and can instead pay for them in the normal manner — from non-sacred money.

Finally, we see a case where one pledged to bring both the animal sacrifice and its loaves from second-tithe money. In this case, the person is allowed to do so. Even though this is not the ideal way to perform the mitzvah, this is an acceptable offering. The Gemara later on the daf clarifies that they are allowed to proceed in this manner, but not required. A person can always bring the offering from non-sacred money, even if they vowed to use second-tithe money, since that is the essence of its mitzvah. 

Read all of Menachot 81 on Sefaria.

This piece originally appeared in a My Jewish Learning Daf Yomi email newsletter sent on April 2, 2026. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, sign up here.