To leave gleanings for The poor

Faith – אֱמוּנָה

• Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 218) explains that leaving leket acknowledges Hashem as the true source of wealth. Faith is expressed by recognizing that success in harvest is not solely human effort but a Divine blessing meant to be shared.

Charity – צְדָקָה

• Mishnah Pe’ah 4:10 codifies that two fallen stalks must be left for the poor. This transforms charity from optional giving into a Torah obligation, ensuring that those in need are provided for.

Compassion – רַחֲמִים

• Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 1:4) teaches that leket protects the dignity of the poor, who collect directly from the field rather than receiving handouts. Compassion is built into the mitzvah’s design.

Justice – צֶדֶק

• Rashi (Leviticus 19:9) stresses that leket belongs to the poor and stranger, not the landowner. Justice here ensures fairness in distributing the land’s bounty to all members of society.

Community – קְהִלָּה

• This mitzvah strengthens communal responsibility by obligating every farmer to contribute to the well-being of the poor. It binds the community together in mutual care and fairness.

Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת

• Leket is an agricultural mitzvah tied to the harvest cycle. It sanctifies the act of reaping by embedding mitzvah-observance directly into the farming process.

Leaving for the Poor – פֵּאָה / לֶקֶט / שִׁכְחָה

• Alongside pe’ah and shikhecha, leket forms a system of agricultural charity. These mitzvot ensure multiple opportunities for the poor to gather food with dignity.

Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל

• Talmud (Kiddushin 39a) notes that leket is a Torah obligation in Israel, while outside the land it applies rabbinically. This highlights the special holiness of agriculture in Eretz Yisrael.

Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

• By obeying Hashem’s command to leave leket, the farmer acknowledges His ownership and will, making this mitzvah an act of service to G-d.

Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

• At the same time, the mitzvah refines our character and teaches us to care for others. By ensuring that no harvest is complete without sharing, we elevate relationships between people.