The latter portion of this week's Parsha deals extensively with the festivals. In the midst of the chapter of the festivals, the Torah introduces the laws concerning leaving crops for the poor. Rashi cites the Midrash that questions why these laws are repeated, having already been discussed in Parshas Kedoshim. Furthermore, why are these laws specifically repeated in the middle of the section regarding the festivals? The Midrash answers that since the festivals were a time when offerings were brought up to Yerushalayim by the Jewish people, the Torah is teaching that a person who leaves for the poor "leket" - grain which falls from the harvester and "shikecha" - grain which is forgotten by the harvester, and "pe'ah" - a corner of the field that is left for the poor, is considered to have built the Beis Hamikdash and offered Korbanos within it.1 Why are these particular gifts, leket, shikecha and pe'ah singled out from amongst the many forms of charity? Furthermore, what is the meaning of the comparison to the building of the Beis Hamikdash and the bringing of Korbanos?
there is something about specifically growing crops and giving them to the poor. it's like a part of you that you can donate to someone in need. this is more meaningful than just giving away something undervalued or unwanted that is conveniently choreographed charity. by growing the crops, you are letting them know that you specifically were thinking about them and showed it with the hard work you poured in to caring for your field.
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of the parsha, we find a very interesting organization of mitzvos. Right in the middle of the description of the various Yamim Tovim and their respective sacrifices, we find the mitzvah of leaving over portions of the crop for the poor to take.
ReplyDeleteRashi explains that this is to teach us that one who gives these gifts to the poor in the proper way is credited as if he built the Beis Hamikdash and brought the appropriate sacrifices therein.
The Rambam explains in Hilchot Beit Habechira 1:1 that there is a mitzvah to build a Beit Hamikdash (1) that will be there to bring Korbanot, and (2) where the people will celebrate (chogegin) three times a year. In parallel with this, in Sefer Hamitzvot Mitzvah 20: It is a mitzvah to build a Beit Hamikdash (1) as a place for bringing korbanot and burning the eish tamid, and (2) where people should go and gather there three times a year.
ReplyDeleteThese mitzvot are separate because the Torah wanted to magnify the importance of giving to the poor - weekly chizuk
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