Mitzvah —
244
Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard
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וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶם֙ אֶת־קְצִ֣יר אַרְצְכֶ֔ם לֹ֧א תְכַלֶּ֛ה פְּאַ֥ת שָׂדְךָ֖ לִקְצֹ֑ר וְלֶ֥קֶט קְצִֽירְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תְלַקֵּֽט׃ וְכַרְמְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תְעוֹלֵ֔ל וּפֶ֥רֶט כַּרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְלַקֵּ֑ט לֶֽעָנִ֤י וְלַגֵּר֙ תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֔ם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ - פָּרָשַׁת קְדשִׁים
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Leviticus 19:9-10 - "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not fully reap the corner of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you collect the [fallen] individual grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am the Lord, your God."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
It is forbidden for a vineyard owner to gather the incomplete clusters (olelot) of grapes; they must be left for the poor.
This mitzvah prohibits vineyard owners from collecting olelot, the incompletely formed grape clusters. Instead, these must be left for the poor and the stranger, who have a rightful claim to them. Together with the positive mitzvah of leaving olelot (Mitzvah 243), this command ensures agricultural justice, compassion, and fairness in the vineyard.
The mitzvah also reinforces humility, reminding landowners that their fields are entrusted by Hashem and that their blessings must be shared with others.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 1:5): Codifies the prohibition, explaining which clusters qualify as olelot.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 221): States that the mitzvah trains us in generosity, preventing stinginess and fostering trust in Hashem.
- Mishnah Pe’ah 7:4: Provides detailed criteria for identifying olelot.
- Rashi (Leviticus 19:10): Notes that the Torah specifically forbids landowners from gathering these grapes, protecting the poor’s claim.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
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.
