Mitzvah —
247
To leave the forgotten sheaves in the field for the poor
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כִּ֣י תִקְצֹר֩ קְצִֽירְךָ֨ בְשָׂדֶ֜ךָ וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֧ עֹ֣מֶר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה לֹ֤א תָשׁוּב֙ לְקַחְתּ֔וֹ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֑ה לְמַ֤עַן יְבָרֶכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדֶֽיךָ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תֵצֵא
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Deuteronomy 24:19 - "When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to take it; it shall be [left] for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord, your God, will bless you in all that you do."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
Farmers must leave behind sheaves that were forgotten in the field during harvest; they belong to the poor.
This mitzvah requires landowners to leave shikhecha — sheaves of grain that were accidentally forgotten during harvesting — for the stranger, orphan, and widow. The Torah forbids going back to retrieve them.
The mitzvah underscores both compassion and trust in Hashem. It ensures provision for society’s most vulnerable while reminding farmers that their livelihood is blessed by G-d, not by taking every stalk for themselves.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 1:8): Defines the scope of shikhecha — it applies to sheaves, bundles, and even single stalks under certain conditions.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 224): States the purpose is to instill generosity and humility, preventing obsession with personal gain.
- Mishnah Pe’ah 6:6: Establishes boundaries for what qualifies as shikhecha and what does not.
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 24:19): Highlights that the blessing of Hashem is directly tied to leaving forgotten sheaves for the needy.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 224) explains that leaving shikhecha shows reliance on Hashem’s blessing rather than hoarding. Forgetfulness is turned into a mitzvah, teaching that Divine providence extends even to small oversights.
Charity – צְדָקָה
- Mishnah Pe’ah 6:6 codifies shikhecha as a direct entitlement for the poor. This ensures that charity is not left to voluntary goodwill, but is mandated as part of every farmer’s harvest.
Compassion – רַחֲמִים
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 1:8) emphasizes that this mitzvah provides for the most vulnerable — the stranger, orphan, and widow. Compassion here is not occasional but systematically built into agricultural life.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 24:19) notes that the Torah’s blessing is tied to leaving forgotten sheaves. Justice is expressed in the fairness of protecting the rights of the needy to what Hashem has assigned them.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- By requiring that forgotten produce serve the disadvantaged, this mitzvah strengthens community bonds. Everyone’s field becomes a resource of blessing for society’s weakest members.
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
- The mitzvah sanctifies farming by turning even unintentional acts — like forgetting a sheaf — into opportunities for holiness and mitzvah observance.
Leaving for the Poor – פֵּאָה / לֶקֶט / שִׁכְחָה
- Shikhecha completes the triad of agricultural gifts. Alongside pe’ah (corners) and leket (gleanings), it ensures no harvest is without provision for the poor.
Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
- Talmud (Kiddushin 39a) establishes that shikhecha is Torah law in Israel, reflecting the land’s holiness. Outside Israel, it applies rabbinically to uphold the value of generosity.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- Leaving shikhecha is obedience to Hashem’s direct command, acknowledging His sovereignty and promise of blessing in return.
Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ
- This mitzvah also shapes how we relate to others. By embedding compassion into agriculture, it refines our character and ensures that society’s most vulnerable are supported with dignity.
