The Tosefta on Becoming a Ḥaver
2. [Regarding] one who takes upon himself four1 things, they accept him as a ḥaver: not to give terumah (the priestly due) and tithes to [a priest who is] an ‘am ha-’arets, not to prepare foodstuffs requiring conditions of purity for an ‘am ha-’arets, and to eat unconsecrated food in a state of purity. [ . . . ]
10. One who comes to take upon himself [the obligations of ḥaverut]: If he had previously acted [according to them] in private, they accept him and afterward instruct him; and if not, they instruct him and afterward accept him.
R. Simeon says: In either case, they accept him and [then] instruct him as they go along.
11. And they accept [him first] with regard to “wings,”2 and afterward they accept]him[with regard to foodstuffs that require preparation in conditions of cleanness.
If he said, “I take upon myself only [the obligations] regarding ‘wings,’” they accept him.
If he took upon himself [the obligations] regarding clean foodstuffs but did not take upon himself [the obligations] regarding “wings,” he is also not deemed trustworthy with regard to clean foodstuffs.
12. How long before they accept him?
The house of Shammai say: “For liquids, thirty days; for clothing, twelve months.”
The house of Hillel say: “For both, thirty days.”
Notes
[The fourth item is missing from manuscripts.—Ed.]
[Heb. kanafim, probably a reference to the purity of hands that will touch food.—Ed.]
Credits
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
