Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim - Charity
by Rabbi Lobel

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not finish the corner of your field and you shall not gather the gleanings of your harvest.” (Leviticus 19:9)

These two laws are referred to as “Pe'ah” and “Leket.” Pe'ah and Leket were both compulsory charitable contributions which one had to leave for the poor. Pe'ah refers to the corner of your field that would not be harvested but left for the poor. Leket were gleanings of up to one or two stalks that were dropped at one time during the harvest and also left for the poor. These were also to be left for the poor.

The Ralbag explains that the Torah laws were fashioned in a way to prevent the farmer from gathering the Pe'ah and Leket for the poor; The corner of the field and the fallen gleanings were left for the poor to gather for themselves. The Torah understood that if the farmer was required to gather the produce and distribute it to the poor, the farmer would feel the produce belonged to him and have a harder time giving it away.

Even though the produce came from land the farmer planted, sowed, and cultivated, the farmer always understood that Pe’ah and Leket would never be his. However, if he gathered the produce in his arms, took physical possession of it, then he would begin to think differently.

This insight teaches us to appreciate the difficulty of giving to charity. Sometimes, people become inspired to donate to charity but falter when the time comes to give the money. So difficult is giving to charity that the Torah never even allowed the farmer to collect the produce on behalf of the poor. Yet, give we must. Remember, the harder the task, the greater the reward.