(known collectively as mattanot aniyyim, "the gifts to the poor"). Those portions of his crops that a farmer must leave for the poor. a) Leket ("gleaning"). If the reapers drop wheat stalks, they may not retrieve them, but must leave them for the poor. Three or more stalks may be retrieved. By the same token, individual grapes dropped on the ground must be left for the poor. Furthermore, small clusters of grapes, which are passed over during the harvest, cannot be retrieved at a later time, and must also be left for the poor (Lev. 19:9-10). The classic example of the observation of theis law is the case of Ruth the Moabite, who was sent to glean in the fields of Boaz.
b) Shikheḥah ("forgotten"). If, when bringing the harvest to the storage area, the workers leave a quantity in the field, they may not go back to gather it (Deut. 24:19). According to rabbinic law, all grain or fruit not harvested must also be left in the field.
c) Pe'ah ("corner"). When harvesting his field, the farmer is required to leave one corner unharvested for the poor (Lev. 23:22). According to Torah law, there are no minimum or maximum quantities involved, one stalk being sufficient to fulfill the obligation, but the rabbis imposed a minimum of 1/60 of the crop to be left as Pe'ah. Similarly, while the Torah law applies only to grain, the rabbis extended it to include vineyards and orchards.
Taken together with the poor man's Tithe that the farmer must give, these are all aspects of the social legislation of the Pentateuch, meant to aid the needy. The Pentateuch singles out widows and orphans in this regard. These laws are obligatory only in the Land of Israel, although the rabbis imposed it on other lands as well. Furthermore, while the Pentateuch only enjoins leaving these gifts for the Jewish poor, the rabbis extended the law to the non-Jewish poor as well, "in the interest of peace." See also Agricultural Laws.
