When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not fully reap the corner of your field (Vayikra 19:9)

Two weeks ago, I mentioned that the new Mishnayos Yomis cycle (two Mishnas a day) recently started again. We have now finished Brachos and have started the second Masechta, which is Peah. Peah is leaving the corner of your field for poor people. This week, we learned in chapter 4 of Peah about a very important concept. For grains and vegetables, which are not too high off the ground, the produce is left attached to the ground for the poor people to pick it themselves. For fruit from a tree, though, which is high up, the owner of the house needs to take down the peah fruit and distribute it. The Mishna then states regarding a tree, if there are 100 poor people and 99 of the people say they want to climb the tree to get the peah, but one says that the peah should be cut by the owner, we listen to the one. Even though we usually say majority rules, in this case, since the one is following the proper law, we listen to the one. The question is, why is the law that the owner needs to take down the peah and why is it so important that we do not listen to the majority in this case?

We can find the answer to this question a few mishnayos later. This mishna states that when the poor comes to take the peah that is still attached to the ground (grains and vegetables), they cannot reap it with a sickle and they cannot uproot it with a spade. The mishna concludes with the reason: lest they strike one another. The reason the poor people are limited in how they can harvest the peah is for safety reasons. Note how much more difficult it is for the poor people to harvest without these tools. Making a poor people suffer is not something we normally do! But safety is so important that our Sages instituted these laws.

This is also why the law is the owner needs to distribute peah fruits from trees: it is for safety reasons. Climbing on a ladder is not a safe thing. Sometimes it must be done, but if it can be avoided, especially when there are many people in a small area going up and down ladders, it should be avoided. This is why the owner is required to take down the peah fruit. This will avoid accidents.

Sometimes when we think about being a good Jew, we think of mitzvos like Shabbos, kosher, and tefillin. These mitzvos are extremely important, but we must not forget that being safe is also an important mitzvah. Don’t put yourself nor anyone else in a dangerous situation.

Good Shabbos!
-y.e.s.
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