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The Five Agricultural Gifts

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The Five Agricultural Gifts

The Torah commands farmers to share their wealth with the poor by leaving them five gifts:

  • Pe’ah. Approximately two percent of the crop was to be left for the poor. The produce was left at the end of the field or at the end of each row within the field.
  • Shikheĥa. Sometimes the harvesters forgot to cut the grain or pick the fruits within a certain area. Other times, overlooked small amounts of produce. If this forgotten produce was less than the volume of 14 liters, it had to be left for the poor.
  • Leket. During the harvest, a few sheaves of grain might be dropped. These had to be left for the poor.
  • Peret. During the grape harvest, a few grapes might be dropped. These had to be left for the poor.
  • Olelot. If any grape clusters were incompletely formed, they had to be left for the poor.
The Importance of These Gifts in the Past The Importance of These Gifts in the Past Applications for Our Times The Mitzva of Tzedaka The Tithe for the Poor Prioritizing Concentric Circles of Responsibility Charity Distributors Giving Beggars The Mitzva in First World Countries Giving a Tenth to Charity Ma’aser Recipients Ma’aser and Wealth Charity Boxes Lending Money Debt Relief Interest-Free Loans The Prohibition of Interest Heter Iska Overdraft A Source of Blessing for All Nations