35. Gifts to the Poor - Matnos Aniyim
a) Gifts from Crops
One who harvests a field or tree should not take
everything, but should leave a little (at least 1/60)
at the end for the poor, as it says "You shall not
finish the end of your field when you reap [and you
shall not gather up the remains of your reaping]; you
shall leave them for the poor and the stranger".1
One who harvests a field should not pick up fallen
stalks but should leave them for the poor, as it
says "[You shall not finish reaping the end of your
field] and you shall not gather up the remains of
your reaping... you shall leave them for the poor
and the stranger".2 Similarly, one who harvests a
vineyard should not take sparse clusters or pick up
fallen fruit but should leave them for the poor, as
it says "You shall not strip your vineyard nor gather
up the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave
them for the poor and the stranger"1; [and it says
"When you harvest your vineyard you shall not strip
it behind you; it shall be for the stranger, the orphan
and the widow"].3 One who harvests and forgets a small
amount should not go back for it but should leave it
for the poor, as it says "And if you forget a sheaf
in the field you shall not go back to take it; it
shall be for the stranger, the orphan and the widow...
when you gather your olives you shall not remove
everything after you; it shall be for the stranger, the
orphan and the widow".4 If the poor are no longer looking
for it anyone may take it.a
During the third and sixth years of the sabbatical
cycle the second tithe is given to the poor, as it
says "At the end of three years you shall take out all
the tithe of your crop of that year and put it at
your gate; and the Levite shall come... and the stranger
and the orphan and widow... and shall eat"5; and it says
"When you have finished giving all the tithe of your
crop in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall
give [it] to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and
the widow and they shall eat".6,b
b) Charity
We are commanded to give charity to the poor
in accordance with our means and their needs, as it
says "[If there is among you a poor man...] you
shall open your hand to him and shall lend him
enough for his needs that he lacks"7; and it says
"[And if your brother becomes poor...] you shall
support him, stranger or settler, and he shall live
with you... and your brother shall live with you"8;
and it says "You sha1l open your hand to your poor brother
and to the poor man in your land".9 It is forbidden
to ignore the poor when they ask for aid, as it says
"You shall not harden your heart and you shall not
shut your hand from your poor brother".7 Redemption
of captives is the highest form of charity.c A promise
to charity is like a vow. Every city must appoint
men to collect and distribute charity.d
One should be especially careful to fulfill the
commandment of giving charity, more than any other
commandment. The Holy One, blessed be He, listens
closely to the cries of the poor, as it says "And
when he cries out to Me I will hear, for I am merciful".10
Charity is characteristic of the descendants
of Abraham, as it says "For I know... that he will
command his children... to do charity [and justice]".11
Israel will not be redeemed except through charity,
as it says "Zion will be redeemed through justice; and
those who return to it, through charity".
Sources: |
| 1. Lev. 23:22 |
a. 1:1-2,4,5-6,10,15 |
| 2. Lev. 19:9-10 |
b. 6:4 |
| 3. Deut. 24:21 |
c. 7:1-2,13; 8:10 |
| 4. Deut. 24:19-20 |
d. 8:1; 9:1 |
| 5. Deut. 14:28-29 |
e. 10:1,3 |
| 6. Deut. 26:12 |
|
| 7. Deut. 15:7-8 |
|
| 8. Lev. 25:35-36 |
|
| 9. Deut. 15:11 |
|
| 10. Ex. 22:26 |
|
| 11. Gen. 18:19 |
|
| 12. Isaiah 1:27 |
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