Pisqa’ 2851
1
“When you reap your vineyard, do not take the odd bunches of grapes as you pass by” (Dt.24:21).
On this basis
R. Eliezer would say:
A vineyard consisting entirely of odd bunches of grapes
belongs to the householder.
But R. Akiva says:
To the poor.2
“Do not take the odd bunches of grapes” (Dt.24:21).
What, exactly, is an odd bunch of grapes?
Those having neither shoulders nor droopers.
A bunch with shoulders but no droopers,
or with droopers but no shoulders—
indeed, these belong to the householder.
But if not, these indeed belong to the poor.3
2
“As you pass by” (Dt.24:21)—
this teaches that
[the grapes left on the vine]
are considered forgotten.
“Do not take the odd bunches as you pass by” (Dt.24:21)—
this teaches that
[the remaining fruit on the bough]
is considered Corner-offering.4
On this basis they taught:
What qualifies as Forgotten-produce
among trellis-trained vines?
Any cluster obstructed by the trellis,
so that the harvester is unable
to stretch his hand out and pick.
In the case of trailing vines—
any which the harvesters have missed.5
3
“Let it be for the migrant, the fatherless and the widow” (Dt.24:21).
Here (Dt.24:21) is a reference to
the migrant and the fatherless,
and elsewhere (Dt.24:19) there is a reference to
the migrant and the fatherless.
Just as elsewhere, [being a] migrant and fatherless
[entitles one to a sheaf] yielding up to two se’ahs
so, too, here [being a] migrant and fatherless
[entitles one to a basket] yielding up to two se’ahs [of grapes].6