(Introduction.)
Today: Economic justice
241. “The gleanings of your harvest … leave them for the poor and the stranger.” (Leviticus 19:9-10)
242. “Do not gather the gleanings of your harvest.” (Leviticus 19:9-10)
243. “[The solitary grapes of] your vineyard … leave them for the poor and the stranger.” (Leviticus 19:10)
244. “Do not pick the solitary grapes of your vineyard.” (Leviticus 19:10)
245. “The fallen fruit of your vineyard … leave them for the poor and the stranger.” (Leviticus 19:10)
246. “Do not gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard.” (Leviticus 19:10)
247. “When you reap the harvest in your field and overlook a sheaf in the field … it shall go to the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.” (Deuteronomy 24:19)
248. “…do not turn back to get it…” (Deuteronomy 24:19) = the forgotten sheaves from #247
249. “Every third year you shall bring out the full tithe of your yield from that year … and the stranger, the orphan, and the widow in your settlements shall come and eat their fill.” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)
250. “Open your hand to your poor and needy kin in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11) = tzedakah
251. “If there is a needy person among you, one of your kin in any of your settlements in the land that Adonai your God is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kin.” (Deuteronomy 15:7)
252. “The first fruits of your new grain and wine and oil … you shall give to [the priest].” (Deuteronomy 18:4) = terumah, the portion for the kohanim (priests)
253. “Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites their tithes, which I have assigned to you as your share, you shall set aside from them 1/10 of the tithe as a gift to God.” (Numbers 18:26) = after the Levites receive 10% of the produce (ma’aser rishon), they have to pass on 10% of that 10% (terumat ma’aser) to the kohanim
254. “Do not delay the skimming of the first yield of your vats.” (Exodus 22:28) = when you separate the various tithes, make sure to do it in the right order, with terumot (for the kohanim) before ma’asrot (for the Levites); don’t delay the terumot
255. “No lay person shall eat the sacred.” (Leviticus 22:10) = a non-kohen may not eat terumah