The Laws of Gifts To The Poorהִלְכוֹת מַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים
They contain thirteen Mitzvos: Seven positive commandments and six negative commandments. They are:יֵשׁ בִּכְלָלָן שְׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִצְווֹת: שֶׁבַע מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה וְשֵׁשׁ מִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וְזֶה הוּא פְּרָטָן:
1) To leave Pe’ah, 2) Not to remove it completely,
3) To leave Leket, 4) Not to gather the Leket, 5) To leave the underdeveloped grape clusters in a vineyard, 6) Not to gather underdeveloped grape clusters, 7) To leave individual grapes that fall, 8) Not to collect individuals grapes that fall, 9) To leave forgotten crop, 10) Not to return to collect the forgotten crop, 11) To set aside a tithe for the poor, 12) To give charity according to one’s capacity, 13) Not to restrain one’s heart from giving to the poor.(א) לְהַנִּיחַ פֵּאָה; (ב) שֶׁלֹּא יְכַלֶּה הַפֵּאָה; (ג) לְהַנִּיחַ לֶקֶט; (ד) שֶׁלֹּא יְלַקֵּט הַלֶּקֶט; (ה) לַעֲזֹב עוֹלֵלוֹת בַּכֶּרֶם; (ו) שֶׁלֹּא יְעוֹלֵל הַכֶּרֶם; (ז) לַעֲזֹב פֶּרֶט הַכֶּרֶם; (ח) שֶׁלֹּא יְלַקֵּט פֶּרֶט הַכֶּרֶם; (ט) לְהַנִּיחַ הַשִּׁכְחָה; (י) שֶׁלֹּא יָשׁוּב לָקַחַת הַשִּׁכְחָה; (יא) לְהַפְרִישׁ מַעֲשֵׂר לָעֲנִיִּים; (יב) לִתֵּן צְדָקָה כְּמִסַּת יָד; (יג) שֶׁלֹּא יְאַמֵּץ לְבָבוֹ עַל הֶעָנִי.
These mitzvos are explained in the ensuing chapters.וּבִאוּר מִצְווֹת אֵלּוּ בִּפְרָקִים אֵלּוּ.
1When a person harvests his field, he should not harvest the entire field. Instead, he should leave a small portion1 of the standing grain2 at the end of his field,3 as Leviticus 23:22 states: “Do not completely remove the grain in the corners of your field when reaping.”4 This prohibition applies to one who reaps5 and one who uproots.6 The grain left standing is referred to as pe’ah.אהַקּוֹצֵר אֶת שָׂדֵהוּ - לֹא יִקְצֹר כָּל הַשָּׂדֶה כֻּלָּהּ אֶלָא יַנִּיחַ מְעַט קָמָה לָעֲנִיִּים בְּסוֹף הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ בְּקֻצְרֶךָ" (ויקרא כג, כב). אֶחָד הַקּוֹצֵר, וְאֶחָד הַתּוֹלֵשׁ. וְזֶה שֶׁמַּנִּיחַ הוּא הַנִּקְרָא 'פֵּאָה'.
2Just as one leaves pe’ah in his field, so too, he must leave pe’ah for trees. When he gathers his produce, he should leave some for the poor. If he transgressed and harvested the entire field or gathered all of the produce of the trees, he should take some of what was harvested or gathered and give it to the poor.7 Giving this produce fulfills a positive commandment,8 as it is stated ibid.: “Leave it for the poor and the stranger.”9 Even if one ground the flour, kneaded it, and baked it into bread, he should give pe’ah from it for the poor.בוּכְשֵׁם שֶׁמַּנִּיחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה, כָּךְ בָּאִילָנוֹת. כְּשֶׁאוֹסֵף אֶת פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶן, מַנִּיחַ מְעַט לָעֲנִיִּים. עָבַר וְקָצַר אֶת כָּל הַשָּׂדֶה, אוֹ אָסַף כָּל פֵּרוֹת הָאִילָן - לוֹקֵחַ מִמַּה שֶׁקָּצַר אוֹ אָסַף מְעַט וְנוֹתְנוֹ לָעֲנִיִּים; שֶׁנְּתִינָתוֹ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם" (שם). וְאַפִלּוּ טָחַן הַקֶּמַח וְלָשׁוֹ וַאֲפָהוּ פַּת - הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה מִן הַפַּת לָעֲנִיִּים.
3If the entire harvest that was reaped10 was destroyed or consumed by fire before he gave pe’ah, he is liable for lashes.11 The reason is that he violated a negative commandment and he did not fulfill the positive commandment that could correct it.גאָבַד כָּל הַקָּצִיר שֶׁקָּצַר, אוֹ נִשְׂרַף, קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתֵּן הַפֵּאָה - הֲרֵי זֶה לוֹקֶה; שֶׁהֲרֵי עָבַר עַל מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְקַיֵּם עֲשֵׂה שֶׁבָּהּ שֶׁנִּתַּק לוֹ.
4Similarly, with regard to leket:12 When one harvests13 or binds sheaves, he should not gather the stalks that fall during the harvest. Instead, he should leave them for the poor, as it is stated ibid.: “You shall not gather the gleanings of your harvest.”14 If he transgresses and gathers them - even if ground them into flour and baked them, he must give it to the poor, as it states ibid.: “Leave it for the poor and the stranger.”15 If this produce is lost or consumed by fire after he gathered it, but before he gave it to the poor, he is liable for lashes.16דוְכֵן בַּלֶּקֶט, כְּשֶׁקּוֹצֵר וּמְאַלֵּם - לֹא יְלַקֵּט הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַנּוֹפְלוֹת בִּשְׁעַת הַקָּצִיר, אֶלָא יַנִּיחֵם לָעֲנִיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְלֶקֶט קְצִירְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט" (ויקרא יט, ט; ויקרא כג, כב). עָבַר וְלִקְּטָן, אַפִלּוּ טָחַן וְאָפָה - נוֹתֵן לָעֲנִיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם" (ויקרא כג, כב). אָבְדוּ אוֹ נִשְׂרְפוּ אַחַר שֶׁלִּקְּטָן, קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתֵּן לָעֲנִיִּים - לוֹקֶה.
5Similar laws apply to individual grapes that fall during the grape harvest and to underdeveloped grape clusters, as it is stated ibid. 19:10: “Do not harvest underdeveloped grape clusters from your vineyard,17 nor gather individual grapes that fall in your vineyard.18 Leave it for the poor and the stranger.”19 Similarly, if a person is binding sheaves of wheat into bundles and forgets one bundle, he may not go back and take it,20 as Deuteronomy 24:19 states: “If you forget a sheave in the field, do not return to take it.”21 If he transgressed and gathered it - even if he ground it into flour and baked it, he must give it to the poor, as it states ibid.: “They shall be for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.” This is a positive commandment.22 Thus you have learned that they all are prohibitions that can be corrected by positive commandments. If one transgresses and does not fulfill the positive commandment involved, he is worthy of lashes.הוְכֵן בַּפֶּרֶט שֶׁנִּפְרַט מִן הָעֲנָבִים בִּשְׁעַת הַבְּצִירָה, וְכֵן בָּעוֹלֵלוֹת - שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תְעוֹלֵל וּפֶרֶט כַּרְמְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם" (ויקרא יט, י). וְכֵן הַמְּעַמֵּר, וְשָׁכַח אֲלֻמָּה אַחַת בַּשָּׂדֶה - הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יִקָּחֶנָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְשָׁכַחְתָּ עֹמֶר בַּשָּׂדֶה לֹא תָשׁוּב לְקַחְתּוֹ" (דברים כד, יט). עָבַר וּלְקָחוֹ, אַפִלּוּ טְחָנוֹ וַאֲפָהוּ - הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹתְנוֹ לָעֲנִיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה יִהְיֶה" (שם), זוֹ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה. הָא לָמַדְתָּ, שֶׁכֻּלָּן מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנִּתַּק לַעֲשֵׂה הֵן; וְאִם לֹא קִיֵּם עֲשֵׂה שֶׁבָּהֶן, לוֹקֶה.
6Just as the prohibition against taking forgotten produce (Shichecha) applies with regard to sheaves, so too, it applies to standing grain.23 If one forgot standing grain and did not harvest it, it should be given to the poor.וכְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַשִּׁכְחָה בָּעֳמָרִים, כָּךְ הִיא בַּקָּמָה. אִם שָׁכַח מִקְצַת הַקָּמָה וְלֹא קְצָרָהּ, הֲרֵי זוֹ לָעֲנִיִּים.
Just as the prohibition against taking forgotten produce applies with regard to grain and the like, so too, it applies to all fruit-bearing trees, as it is stated ibid.:20: “When you beat your olive tree,24 do not go back and take its glory.” This law also applies to produce from other trees.וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהַשִּׁכְחָה בַּתְּבוּאָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהּ, כָּךְ יֵשׁ שִׁכְחָה לָאִילָנוֹת כֻּלָּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי תַחְבֹּט זֵיתְךָ לֹא תְפַאֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ" (דברים כד, כ). וְהוּא הַדִּין לִשְׁאָר הָאִילָנוֹת.
7Thus it can be concluded that there are four types of presents given to the poor in a vineyard: individual grapes that fall, underdeveloped grape clusters, pe’ah, and forgotten produce. There are three presents from a grain crop: leket, forgotten produce, and pe’ah, and two from trees: forgotten produce and pe’ah.זנִמְצֵאתָ לָמֵד שֶׁאַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת לָעֲנִיִּים בַּכֶּרֶם: הַפֶּרֶט, וְהָעוֹלֵלוֹת, וְהַפֵּאָה, וְהַשִּׁכְחָה. וְשָׁלוֹשׁ מַתָּנוֹת בַּתְּבוּאָה: הַלֶּקֶט, וְהַשִּׁכְחָה, וְהַפֵּאָה. וּשְׁתַּיִם בָּאִילָנוֹת: הַפֵּאָה, וְהַשִּׁכְחָה.
8The owners do not have the right to give these presents to the poor to the individual of their choice.25 Instead, the poor may come and take it against the owners’ will.26 These presents are expropriated even from a poor Israelite.חכָּל מַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים אֵלּוּ - אֵין בָּהֶן טוֹבַת הֲנָיָה לַבְּעָלִים, אֶלָא הָעֲנִיִּים בָּאִין וְנוֹטְלִין אוֹתָן עַל כָּרְחָן שֶׁל בְּעָלִים. וְאַפִלּוּ עָנִי שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, מוֹצִיאִין אוֹתָן מִיָּדוֹ.
9Whenever the term “stranger” is used with regard to these presents to the poor, the intent is a convert to Judaism.27 This is evident from the wording used by Deuteronomy 14:29 with regard to the tithe given to the poor:28 “And the Levite and the stranger will come.” Just as the Levite is a member of the covenant, so too, the “stranger” is a member of the covenant.טכָּל גֵּר הָאָמוּר בְּמַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים, אֵינוֹ אֶלָא גֵּר צֶדֶק, שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּמַעְשַׂר עָנִי "וּבָא הַלֵּוִי... וְהַגֵּר" (דברים יד, כט) - מַה הַלֵּוִי בֶּן בְּרִית אַף הַגֵּר בֶּן בְּרִית.
Nevertheless, we do not prevent gentiles from taking these presents. Instead, they are allowed to come together with the poor of Israel29 and take them as an expression of the Torah’s ways of peace.וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אֵין מוֹנְעִין עֲנִיֵּי גּוֹיִים מִמַּתָּנוֹת אֵלּוּ, אֶלָא בָּאִין בִּכְלַל עֲנִיֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנוֹטְלִין אוֹתָן - מִפְּנֵי דַרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם.
10With regard to these presents for the poor, it is said: “Leave it for the poor and the stranger.” Implied is that the obligation exists only when the poor demand them. If the poor cease seeking them and searching for them, the remainder is permitted for any person.30 For - in contrast to terumah - the physical substance of the crops does not become consecrated. Nor is he required to give their worth to the poor, for it is not stated that he should give them to the poor, but that he should “leave it.” He is not commanded to leave it for the beasts and the wild fowl, but for the poor, and there are no poor.ינֶאֱמַר בְּמַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים "לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם" (ויקרא יט, י; ויקרא כג, כב) - כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהָעֲנִיִּים תּוֹבְעִין אוֹתָן. פָּסְקוּ הָעֲנִיִּים מִלְּבַקֵּשׁ וּלְחַזֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם - הֲרֵי הַנִּשְׁאָר מֵהֶן מֻתָּר לְכָל אָדָם, שֶׁאֵין גּוּפָן קָדוֹשׁ כַּתְּרוּמוֹת. וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב לִתֵּן לָהֶן דְּמֵיהֶן, שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶן 'וְנָתַן לָעֲנִיִּים', אֶלָא "תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם". וְאֵינוֹ מְצֻוֶּה לַעֲזֹב אוֹתָן לַחַיָּה וְלָעוֹפוֹת אֶלָא לָעֲנִיִּים, וַהֲרֵי אֵין עֲנִיִּים.
11When is everyone allowed to collect the leket?31 When a second wave of gatherers gather after the first wave of gatherers and then depart. When is everyone allowed to collect individual grapes that fall and underdeveloped grape clusters? When the poor walked through the vineyard and departed. What remains afterwards is permitted for every one.יאוּמֵאֵימָתַי כָּל אָדָם מֻתָּרִין בַּלֶּקֶט? מִשֶּׁיִּכָּנְסוּ הַמְּלַקְּטִים הַשְּׁנִיִּים וִילַקְּטוּ אַחַר מְלַקְּטִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, וְיֵצְאוּ. וּמֵאֵימָתַי כָּל אָדָם מֻתָּרִין בַּפֶּרֶט וּבָעוֹלֵלוֹת? מִשֶּׁיְּהַלְּכוּ הָעֲנִיִּים בַּכֶּרֶם וְיָבוֹאוּ, הַנִּשְׁאָר אַחֲרֵי כֵן מֻתָּר לְכָל אָדָם.
When is everyone allowed to collect olives that were forgotten in Eretz Yisrael?32 If they were forgotten while on the tree, one is permitted to take them from Rosh Chodesh Kislev33 which is the time of the second rain34 in a late year.35 One is permitted, by contrast, to take masses of collected olives forgotten under a tree after the poor have ceased seeking them.וּמֵאֵימָתַי כָּל אָדָם מֻתָּרִין בַּשִּׁכְחָה שֶׁל זֵּיתִים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל? אִם שָׁכַח אוֹתָהּ בְּרֹאשׁ הַזַּיִת - הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר בָּהּ מֵרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ כִּסְלֵו, שֶׁהוּא זְמַן רְבִיעָה שְׁנִיָּה בְּשָׁנָה אֲפֵלָה. אֲבָל צִבּוּרֵי זֵיתִים שֶׁיִּשָּׁכְחוּ תַּחַת הָאִילָן, הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר בָּהֶן מִשֶּׁיִּפְסְקוּ הָעֲנִיִּים מִלְּחַזֵּר אַחֲרֵיהֶן.
12As long as a poor person has the right to take olives left on the earth under the trees, he may take them,36 although people at large have already been granted license to take the forgotten produce on the tree itself.37 As long as one has the right to take forgotten produce from the tree itself, he may do so, even though he does not have the right to take forgotten produce from under the tree38.יבכָּל זְמַן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לֶעָנִי לִטֹּל שִׁכְחַת הַזֵּיתִים הַמֻּנָּחוֹת בָּאָרֶץ תַּחַת הָאִילָנוֹת - נוֹטֵל, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכְּבָר הֻתַּר כָּל אָדָם בַּשִּׁכְחָה שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁ הָאִילָן. וְכָל זְמַן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לִטֹּל שִׁכְחָה שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁ הָאִילָן - נוֹטֵל, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן אֵין לוֹ שִׁכְחָה תַּחְתָּיו.
13Presents to the poor from the crops in the field with which the poor are not concerned39 belong to the owner,40 even though the poor have not ceased searching for their presents.יגמַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים שֶׁבַּשָּׂדֶה שֶׁאֵין הָעֲנִיִּים מַקְפִּידִים עֲלֵיהֶן - הֲרֵי הֵן שֶׁל בַּעַל הַשָּׂדֶה, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא פָסְקוּ הָעֲנִיִּים מִלְּחַזֵּר עַל מַתְּנוֹתֵיהֶם.
14According to Scriptural Law, all of these presents for the poor must be given only in Eretz Yisrael41 like terumah and the tithes, as indicated by Leviticus 19:9: “When you reap the harvest of your land” and Deuteronomy 24:19: “When you reap your harvest in your field.”42 It has already been explained in the Talmud that the mitzvah of pe’ah must be observed in the Diaspora according to Rabbinic decree. It appears to me43 that this law applies to all the remainder of these presents to the poor. All of their obligations must be observed in the Diaspora according to Rabbinic decree.44ידכָּל מַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים הָאֵלּוּ אֵינָן נוֹהֲגוֹת מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָא בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, כִּתְרוּמוֹת וּכְמַעַשְׂרוֹת. הֲרֵי הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר "וּבְקֻצְרְכֶם אֶת קְצִיר אַרְצְכֶם" (ויקרא יט, ט; ויקרא כג, כב), וְ"כִי תִקְצֹר קְצִירְךָ בְשָׂדֶךָ" (דברים כד, יט). וּכְבָר נִתְפָּרֵשׁ בַּתַּלְמוּד, שֶׁהַפֵּאָה נוֹהֶגֶת בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁהוּא הַדִּין לִשְׁאָר מַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים אֵלּוּ, שֶׁהֵן נוֹהֲגוֹת בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים.
15What is the minimum obligation for pe’ah? According to Scriptural Law, there is no minimum measure. Even if one leaves only one grain stalk, he fulfills his obligation. According to Rabbinic law, however, one must leave one-sixtieth of the crop, whether in Eretz Yisrael or in the Diaspora. And one should add to the measure of one-sixtieth based on the size of the field, the amount of poor people, and the blessing in his crop.טוכַּמָּה הוּא שִׁעוּר הַפֵּאָה? מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֵין לָהּ שִׁעוּר - אַפִלּוּ הִנִּיחַ שִׁבֹּלֶת אַחַת יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ. אֲבָל מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם, אֵין פָּחוֹת מֵאֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים, בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ. וּמוֹסִיף עַל הָאֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים לְפִי גֹּדֶל הַשָּׂדֶה, וּלְפִי רֹב הָעֲנִיִּים, וּלְפִי בִּרְכַת הַזֶּרַע.
What is implied? When a field is very small and leaving one-sixtieth would not be of any advantage to the poor person,45 he should increase the measure. Similarly, if there are many poor people, he should increase the measure. And if he sowed only a small amount and reaped a lot, he has been granted blessing and he should increase according to the blessing. Whoever adds to the pe’ah will be given additional reward. There is no limit to this increase.46כֵּיצַד? שָׂדֶה שֶׁהִיא קְטַנָּה בְּיוֹתֵר, שֶׁאִם הִנִּיחַ מִמֶּנָּה אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים אֵינוֹ מוֹעִיל לֶעָנִי - הֲרֵי זֶה מוֹסִיף עַל הַשִּׁעוּר. וְכֵן אִם הָיוּ הָעֲנִיִּים מְרֻבִּין, מוֹסִיף. וְאִם זָרַע מְעַט וְאָסַף הַרְבֵּה, שֶׁהֲרֵי נִתְבָּרֵךְ - מוֹסִיף לְפִי הַבְּרָכָה. וְכָל הַמּוֹסִיף בַּפֵּאָה, מוֹסִיפִין לוֹ שָׂכָר. וְאֵין לַהוֹסָפָה הַזֹּאת שִׁעוּר.