Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard

Faith – אֱמוּנָה

• Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 221) explains that restraining from gathering olelot shows faith in Hashem’s command, even when the clusters seem small and insignificant. It trains us to trust that true blessing comes from Divine will, not from hoarding every grape.

Charity – צְדָקָה

• Mishnah Pe’ah 7:4 teaches that olelot are designated by Torah law for the poor. This prohibition ensures that agricultural charity is not bypassed but treated as a binding obligation.

Compassion – רַחֲמִים

• Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 1:5) writes that leaving these incomplete clusters spares the poor humiliation by giving them a rightful portion. Compassion is embedded in the mitzvah by providing dignity along with sustenance.

Justice – צֶדֶק

• Rashi (Leviticus 19:10) highlights that “you shall not gather” is directed at the vineyard owner, making it clear that the poor have a legal right. Justice here is not optional kindness but a matter of rightful claim.

Community – קְהִלָּה

• This mitzvah strengthens the bonds of community by weaving the needs of the poor into the cycle of harvest. The prohibition ensures that every vineyard contributes to the collective welfare of society.

Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת

• Like pe’ah and leket, this mitzvah sanctifies farming by embedding Divine boundaries within agricultural work. The vineyard becomes a place of mitzvah, not just profit.

Leaving for the Poor – פֵּאָה / לֶקֶט / שִׁכְחָה

• Together with other agricultural mitzvot, this prohibition creates a system of protections ensuring that the poor benefit from every type of harvest — grain, field, and vineyard alike.

Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל

• Talmud (Kiddushin 39a) explains that olelot is a Torah obligation in the Land of Israel, highlighting the sanctity of the land and its agricultural mitzvot. Outside Israel, it applies rabbinically to preserve its spirit.

Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

• By obeying the restriction, the farmer acknowledges Hashem’s sovereignty over the land and its fruits. It is an act of reverence and loyalty to His will.

Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

• This mitzvah also shapes our interpersonal conduct. By legally protecting the poor’s right to gather, it ensures compassion and fairness extend into daily human interactions.