terumah

Terumah is a Hebrew term meaning “portion” and refers to a biblical practice in which a portion of agricultural produce from the land of Israel is set aside for the Kohanim, the priestly class. Described in the Torah, notably in Leviticus and Numbers, terumah is one of the foundational offerings in the Israelite agricultural system and is distinct from other tithes.

In its core rule, a portion of the harvest is designated as terumah and given to a priest. The recipient is the Kohen, and the offering is treated as sacred. Traditionally, terumah was taken from the best of the crop and, in biblical times, eaten by the Kohanim in a state of ritual purity. The practice serves as a means of supporting the priestly class, who performed religious duties in the Temple.

The obligation to give terumah is tied to the Land of Israel. Outside the land, most traditional authorities hold that there is no legal requirement to separate terumah from produce, though some discussions address how principles might apply in various jurisdictions or in contemporary study.

Today, terumah is primarily discussed within rabbinic literature and Jewish legal study as part of the broader system of biblical harvest laws. In modern times, the practical obligations are largely contextual to Israel and Temple-era regulations, while the concept remains a reference point in discussions of priestly gifts, ritual purity, and the religious economy of ancient Israel.