Not to gather the gleanings

Faith – אֱמוּנָה

• Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 219) explains that leaving leket demonstrates trust in Hashem’s will. By refraining from gathering every stalk, the farmer affirms that abundance comes from G-d and is meant to be shared.

Charity – צְדָקָה

• Mishnah Pe’ah 4:10 makes clear that leket is not optional charity but a Torah obligation. The prohibition ensures that charity is not neglected, but enshrined as a duty of every farmer.

Compassion – רַחֲמִים

• Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 1:4) notes that leket protects the dignity of the poor by allowing them to collect directly from the field. This embodies compassion not just in provision, but in preserving self-respect.

Justice – צֶדֶק

• Rashi (Leviticus 19:9) emphasizes that the prohibition is directed at the landowner: “Do not gather.” Justice means ensuring fairness by protecting the poor’s rightful share of the harvest.

Community – קְהִלָּה

• This mitzvah strengthens the fabric of society by obligating every landowner to contribute. It binds rich and poor together, ensuring that no harvest excludes the needy.

Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת

• Like pe’ah, this mitzvah embeds mitzvah observance into farming. Agriculture becomes more than labor; it becomes a sacred act of service, tied to Hashem’s justice.

Leaving for the Poor – פֵּאָה / לֶקֶט / שִׁכְחָה

• Rambam and the Mishnah group this mitzvah with pe’ah and shikhecha, creating a system of agricultural obligations designed to uphold the dignity and sustenance of the poor.

Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל

• Talmud (Kiddushin 39a) teaches that leket is a Torah obligation in Eretz Yisrael, reflecting the land’s holiness. Outside of Israel, the mitzvah applies rabbinically to preserve the value of generosity.

Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

• By refraining from gathering leket, a farmer obeys Hashem’s command and acknowledges His sovereignty over the land and its produce.

Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

• This mitzvah also refines interpersonal conduct, ensuring that generosity and fairness toward others are practiced in everyday life. It strengthens social bonds by protecting the poor and stranger.