Mitzvah —
249
To separate the tithe for the poor
This page is incomplete.
Help complete the
Mitzvah Minute website.
Do a Mitzvah — Join us in building a living digital Beit Midrash — your partnership makes it possible.
-
מִקְצֵ֣ה ׀ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים תּוֹצִיא֙ אֶת־כׇּל־מַעְשַׂר֙ תְּבוּאָ֣תְךָ֔ בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַהִ֑וא וְהִנַּחְתָּ֖ בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ וּבָ֣א הַלֵּוִ֡י כִּ֣י אֵֽין־לוֹ֩ חֵ֨לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֜ה עִמָּ֗ךְ וְ֠הַגֵּ֠ר וְהַיָּת֤וֹם וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ וְאָכְל֖וּ וְשָׂבֵ֑עוּ לְמַ֤עַן יְבָרֶכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכׇל־מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה
-
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 - "At the end of three years, you shall take out all the tithe of your crop in that year and place it in your cities. And the Levite because he has no portion or inheritance with you and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are in your cities, will come and eat and be satisfied; so that the Lord, your God, will bless you in all the work of your hand that you will do."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
Every third and sixth year of the seven-year Shemitah cycle, farmers must separate the tithe for the poor (Ma’aser Ani) and distribute it to them.
This mitzvah commands the giving of Ma’aser Ani — the “poor man’s tithe” — in the third and sixth years of the agricultural cycle. Unlike the second tithe (Ma’aser Sheni), which is eaten in Jerusalem, this tithe is given directly to the Levite, stranger, orphan, and widow.
The mitzvah creates a system of support for the most vulnerable, ensuring food security and dignity within the community. It also reminds farmers that their wealth is not solely their own, but entrusted by Hashem for the benefit of society.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 6:1): Codifies the requirement of Ma’aser Ani in the third and sixth years, distinguishing it from Ma’aser Sheni.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 478): Teaches that the mitzvah develops generosity and communal responsibility, training us to share from our abundance.
- Sifre Devarim (Parashat Re’eh 110): Emphasizes that blessing is tied to supporting the poor with satisfaction.
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 14:29): Notes that the Torah promises blessing specifically in connection with giving this tithe to the needy.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 478) teaches that giving Ma’aser Ani develops trust in Hashem’s system of blessing. By sharing produce with the poor, one acknowledges that prosperity is sustained by Divine providence, not personal hoarding.
Charity – צְדָקָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 6:1) codifies that Ma’aser Ani must be distributed in the third and sixth years of the cycle. This system ensures consistent support for the poor, transforming charity into an obligation rather than optional generosity.
Compassion – רַחֲמִים
- Sifre Devarim (Re’eh 110) emphasizes that the poor must be given enough to be “satisfied,” not just token amounts. The mitzvah embodies compassion by ensuring true sustenance and dignity for the vulnerable.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 14:29) explains that the Torah connects Hashem’s blessing to providing for the poor. Justice here is not just social equity but the recognition that part of the harvest is their rightful share.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- By requiring that farmers share produce with the Levite, orphan, widow, and stranger, the mitzvah strengthens communal bonds and responsibility. It ensures that no group in society is left without support.
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
- Like other agricultural mitzvot, Ma’aser Ani sanctifies the act of farming. The field becomes not only a place of sustenance but also a channel for mitzvot and holiness.
Terumah / Ma’aser – תְּרוּמָה / מַעֲשֵׂר
- Rambam distinguishes Ma’aser Ani from Ma’aser Sheni. While the latter is eaten in Jerusalem, this tithe is given directly to the needy, making it the most socially-oriented form of tithe.
Leaving for the Poor – פֵּאָה / לֶקֶט / שִׁכְחָה
- Together with the other agricultural gifts, Ma’aser Ani creates a comprehensive system of economic justice, ensuring multiple streams of support for the poor.
Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
- Talmud (Kiddushin 38b–39a) establishes that Ma’aser Ani is biblically required in the Land of Israel. Outside Israel, it is observed rabbinically, preserving its spirit.
Orphan / Widow – יָתוֹם / אַלְמָנָה
- The Torah explicitly names these groups, emphasizing that the mitzvah is targeted to the most vulnerable members of society. It provides a protective safety net by Divine law.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- The mitzvah is a direct command from Hashem, sanctifying wealth and produce by aligning them with Divine purpose. Obedience acknowledges Hashem as the ultimate provider.
Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ
- The act of giving Ma’aser Ani refines personal character and interpersonal ethics, ensuring that prosperity benefits others and fosters a compassionate, just society.
.webp)
