What is "demai"

Demai is the third tractate of Seder Zeraim ("Order of Seeds") of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. There is some debate as to the literal meaning and origin of the word. It is concerned mainly with laws related to produce where it is suspected that ma'aser rishon (the first tithe for the Levi), terumat ma'aser and ma'aser sheini (the second tithe) or ma'aser ani (the tithe for the poor), depending on the year of the Shemittah cycle, have not been properly separated in accordance with . It consists of seven chapters and has a Gemara from only the Jerusalem Talmud.

Demai ( Mishnaic Hebrew: ) is a Halakhic term referring to agricultural produce, the owner of which was not trusted with regard to the correct separation of the tithes.

The tribe of Levi, having been excluded from participating in the division of the land, obtained as compensation a share in its produce ( Numbers 18:24). As the tribe included two elements, priests and Levites, the compensation was given in two forms: "terumah" (heave-offering) and "ma'aser" (tithes) for the Levites; and the latter gave the tenth part of the tithe to the priests as "terumat ma'aser" (heave-offering of the tithe: Numbers 18:26). In addition, a second tithe had to be separated from the produce in the first, second, fourth, and fifth years of the year-week. This tithe had to be taken to Jerusalem and consumed there, in accordance with certain regulations; while in the third and sixth years it was given to the poor. In the former case it was called "ma'aser sheni" (second tithe); in the latter "ma'asar 'ani" (the tithe for the poor). The produce of the seventh year was free from all these dues.