Misva 216: Leaving a Corner of One’s Field for the Poor

The Torah in Parashat Kedoshim (19:10) commands leaving certain portions of one’s agricultural produce to the poor, including Pe’a – the corner of one’s field. The Sefer Ha’hinuch lists the Pe’a obligation as the 216 th Biblical command. The Torah instructs that the corner of the field must be left for the “Ani” (pauper) and “Ger” (foreigner). The word “Ger” in this context refers to a “Ger Sedek” – a gentile who converted to Judaism with sincere motives. However, the Sages enacted the even needy gentiles are permitted to take produce from the corner of a field in the interest of “Darkeh Shalom” (peaceful relations with non-Jews). The famous first Mishna of Masechet Pe’a lists a number of Misvot which have no “Shiur” (fixed amount), including Pe’a. As far as Torah law is concerned, there is no minimum required size of the corner of a field which must be left for the poor. However, the Sages enacted that one should leave at least one-sixtieth of one’s field as Pe’a. To explain the reason for this Misva, the Sefer Ha’hinuch writes that G-d wants us to develop proper character traits, including generosity. By leaving for the poor a portion of one’s yield, which he invested a great deal of hard work and effort to produce, one is trained to become generous. As a result, the Sefer Ha’hinuch writes, the person becomes worthy of G-d’s kindness, because the way a person treats the others is the way he is then treated by the Almighty. Conversely, the Sefer Ha’hinuch writes, if one insists on keeping all his produce for himself, then he develops the trait of stinginess, and he will thus be unworthy of G-d’s blessing. This obligation applies to both men and women, and to Kohanim, Leviyim and Yisraelim. It applies in the Land of Israel, when the majority of the Jewish Nation lives there. The Sages enacted that this Misva should be observed also in certain other places, as well. If one failed to leave the corner of his field in Eretz Yisrael for the poor (when this command applied), then he is in violation of this affirmative command, and also transgresses the prohibition against harvesting the entirety of one’s field (“Lo Techaleh”). However, as long as the harvested produce is extant, he can still fulfill the Misva by giving the poor the required quantity of the harvested produce. If he had made the grain to bread, then he can give the poor the required amount of bread, and thereby fulfill the obligation. If, however, there is no longer any possibility of giving the required amount to the poor, such as if the produce was all consumed by a fire, then he is liable to Malkut for violating the prohibition of “Lo Techaleh.” As long as he still has the possibility of rectifying his mistake and giving the required percentage to the needy, he does not receive Malkut; but once this is no longer possible, he is liable to punishment.