Pisqa’ 1101
1
“And the migrant, the fatherless, or the widow within your gates” (Dt.14:29).
Is it possible to say that
[the Pauper’s-tithe is offered]
whether one is in need or not in need?
Now, you shouldn’t wonder [at this]!
For, indeed, He says:
“Nor seize the garment of a widow” (Dt.24:17)—
whether she is poor or rich!
[But] the Teaching states [regarding Gleanings]:
“Leave them for the pauper” (Lv.19:10)—
just as the pauper is in need,
so, too, all these others are in need.
Is it possible to say that
[all of them are entitled to the Pauper’s-tithe],
whether or not they are covenant partners [i.e., Israelites]?
[No, for] the Teaching states:
“The Levite” (Dt.14:29)—
just as the Levite is a covenant partner,
so, too, all of these [others] must be covenant partners.
“And they shall eat and be satisfied” (Dt.14:29)—
give them enough to satisfy them.
On this basis they taught:
On the threshing floor, they do not give to a pauper
less then a half-qav of wheat or a qav of barley.2.
“In your gates” (Dt.14:29)—
this teaches that
you may not expel [paupers]
from the Land to beyond the Land.
They taught:
A clan from the family of Nevalta
once lived in Jerusalem.
[Sages] offered them 600 talents of gold,
for they didn’t want to expel them from Jerusalem.3