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Hebrew Text
כִּי תַחְבֹּט זֵיתְךָ לֹא תְפָאֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה יִהְיֶה׃
English Translation
When thou beatest thy olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Transliteration
Ki tachbot zeitkha lo tfa'er achareikha lager layatom velal'manah yihyeh.
Hebrew Leining Text
כִּ֤י תַחְבֹּט֙ זֵֽיתְךָ֔ לֹ֥א תְפַאֵ֖ר אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶֽה׃
Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Chullin 131a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the laws of leaving gleanings for the poor, specifically regarding olive trees.
📖 Bava Metzia 88b
The verse is cited in the context of discussing the ethical obligations towards the poor and the importance of leaving portions of the harvest for them.
Context and General Meaning
The verse (Devarim 24:20) is part of a series of mitzvot concerning agricultural kindness, specifically the obligation to leave portions of one's harvest for the poor. Here, the Torah commands that when one harvests olives by beating the tree, they must not return to gather every last olive, but rather leave the remaining ones for the stranger, orphan, and widow.
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi explains the phrase "לֹא תְפָאֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ" ("thou shalt not go over the boughs again") to mean that one should not meticulously gather every single olive, as if "adorning" the tree by stripping it completely. Instead, one must leave some behind for those in need. Rashi emphasizes that this mitzvah applies specifically to olive trees, as their harvesting method (beating the branches) makes it easy to overlook some fruit, which must then be left for the poor.
Rambam (Maimonides) on the Mitzvah
In Hilchot Matnot Aniyim (Laws of Gifts to the Poor 1:10), Rambam codifies this mitzvah as part of the broader obligations of leket, shikcha, and pe'ah (gleanings, forgotten sheaves, and corners of the field). He clarifies that this applies not only to olives but also to other trees, though the Torah singles out olives due to their common cultivation in Eretz Yisrael. The owner must intentionally leave these gifts rather than merely overlooking them by accident.
Talmudic and Midrashic Insights
Moral and Ethical Lessons
This verse underscores the Torah's emphasis on tzedakah (charity) and chessed (kindness) as fundamental Jewish values. By leaving part of the harvest for the poor, landowners acknowledge that their prosperity is a divine gift and that they must share it with those less fortunate. The inclusion of the stranger, orphan, and widow—groups particularly vulnerable in ancient society—highlights the Torah's concern for societal equity.
Practical Halachic Application
In contemporary terms, this mitzvah reminds us to: