Comentario sobre Peah 8:6
מִדָּה זוֹ אֲמוּרָה בְּכֹהֲנִים וּבִלְוִיִּם וּבְיִשְׂרְאֵלִים. הָיָה מַצִּיל, נוֹטֵל מֶחֱצָה וְנוֹתֵן מֶחֱצָה. הָיָה לוֹ דָבָר מֻעָט, נוֹתֵן לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְהֵן מְחַלְּקִין בֵּינֵיהֶם:
Esta medida se aplica a sacerdotes, levitas e israelitas. Si uno quiere ahorrar algo [por ejemplo, para parientes pobres], puede retener la mitad y dar la mitad. Si tiene una pequeña cantidad [menos por persona pobre presente que las cantidades indicadas], la coloca ante ellos y la dividen entre ellos.
Bartenura on Mishnah Peah
מדה זו – since we don’t give any less to the poor that is stated for Kohanim, Levites and Israelites, each one of them to whom we distribute the Poor Man’s Tithe in the threshing floor/granary should not receive less than this measurement.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Peah
Introduction
This mishnah continues to discuss how one divvies out poor man’s tithe to the poor.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Peah
היה מציל – for he does not want to distribute to the poor who came all the Poor Man’s Tithe that is in his hand, but he wants to save from it for his poor relatives.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Peah
This measure was stated for the priest, Levite and Israelite alike. When it comes to receiving poor man’s tithe, all of Israel is treated alike. No one receives less than the amount prescribed in section one. Even though priests receive terumah and Levites receive other tithes, they are still eligible for the poor man’s tithe.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Peah
נוטל מחצה – and hides it for the needs of his relatives.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Peah
If he was saving some [to give to his poor relatives], he can retain half and give the other half away. If the person who has poor man’s tithe to give out wishes to save some for his poor relatives, he may do so, but he may only save half of the tithe. The rest he must give out freely to whichever poor person comes his way. It seems to me that the mishnah acknowledges our nepotistic impulses and even grants them some legitimacy. It is natural and even praiseworthy to want to help one’s relatives before one helps a stranger. However, our impulses must be curbed and we must also realize that our duty to help the poor extends not only to our family, but to outsiders as well. One can save some poor man’s tithe for his family, but he must also give away at least half of it to other poor people.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Peah
ונותן מחצה – to the poor people came, and if after he took the half and hid it for the needs of his relatives, he had a little bit, that is to say, that thre didn’t remain to him enough to give to every one of the poor people according to the fixed measurement mentioned above in our Mishnah, he places it before them what remains in his hand in order that they can divide it among themselves.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Peah
If he has only a small amount, then he must place it before them and they then divide it among themselves. If the person giving out his poor man’s tithe only has a little bit to give out and it is not enough to fulfill the minimum amounts listed above in mishnah five, then he should just put out what he has and let the poor divided it up among themselves. Perhaps this is a way of avoiding suspicion that he is holding back. Alternatively, the mishnah is teaching that this is better than holding it back until he saves up enough to meet the minimum measures in mishnah five.
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