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The poor man's tithe (Hebrew: ma'sar ani), also referred to as the pauper's tithe or the third tithe, is a triennial tithe of one's produce, required in Judaism. It requires that one tenth of produce grown in the third and sixth years of the seven-year sabbatical cycle be given to the Levites and the poor.Sirach, scrolls, and sages p185 ed. T. Muraoka, John F. Elwolde - 1999 "and honouring God was expressed, inter alia, by paying one's dues to the priesthood and by setting aside the 'pauper's tithe'"
The law applies during the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, and after the Temple's destruction. It applies only to crops that are harvested in the Land of Israel, but during the Shmita, also applies to crops harvested in Jordan and Egypt, so that the poor of Israel would be supported in the Seventh Year.Mishnah, Yadayim 4:3
Thus, this tithe is separated from homegrown crops during the 3rd and 6th year of the seven-year cycle.
The early rabbis, the Tannaim and Amoraim, understood these texts as describing two separate tithes: the first tithe (Hebrew: ma'aser rishon) to be given to the Levites and the second tithe (Hebrew: ma'aser sheni) in Leviticus to be kept by its owner and to be eaten in Jerusalem, except in the third and sixth years of the sabbatical cycle, when instead of separating the second tithe, the poor man's tithe ( ma'sar ani) was separated and given to the poor.David Instone-Brewer Traditions of the Rabbis from the Era of the New Testament Page 321 2004 "The rabbis understood these texts as describing two separate tithes: the first tithe ( maaser rishon) which was for the Levites and the second tithe ( maaser sheni) which was for eating in Jerusalem except every third year when it became the poor man's tithe ( maaser ani). The passage in Leviticus 27 is traditionally interpreted as referring to second tithe because it speaks about redeeming the tithed produce, which was necessary only for second tithe." The medieval commentator Rashi also interprets Deuteronomy 26:12 as referring to the third year, when the first tithe was given to the Levite and the poor tithe was given to "the stranger, the orphan, and the widow".
The Babylonian Talmud also states that while ma'sar ani technically could be used to feed one's poor father, one should not do so, so as not to embarrass one's father. Rather, a son should try his best to care for his father out of his other property. Kiddushin 32a
The Jerusalem Talmud to Pe'ah 1:1 discusses the maximum amount of one's income/money one can give to the poor and determines that one should not give more than one-fifth of his possessions so he does not become poor himself. This Gemara and a discussion in Sifrei are quoted extensively by later Jewish sages who discussed an ancient custom of tithing 10% of one's income for charity. This tithe, known as ma'sar kesafim, has become a universal practice.
Orthodox Judaism regards it as meritorious to discharge one's poor man's tithe obligation additionally by giving a portion of one's income, ideally a tenth, to charity.
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