From our Torah portion this week we note the commandment to leave food for the poor and for the stranger (peah, leket, etc.) appears right in the midst of the list of the Biblical holidays (see Lev. 23:22), which the sages said was intended to remind us to help those in need, especially during these times. Hence we see that giving of tzedakah is a regular part of the Jewish holidays (e.g., giving maot chittim [מַעוֹת חִטִּים] money for wheat during Passover, matanot laevyonim [מַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים] for Purim, and so on). The sages ask, Why did the Torah place the mitzvah of helping the poor while speaking about the holidays and their particular sacrifices? To teach us the greatness of charity: God credits whoever gives charity to the poor as if they built the Holy Temple and presented offerings therein to God. As it is written: Giving a gift to the poor is giving a gift to God Himself!
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 21:36:57 +0000
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