הלכות מתנות עניים ג׳Gifts to the Poor 3

Halacha 1א׳

אֵין מַנִּיחִין אֶת הַפֵּאָה מִשָּׂדֶה עַל חֲבֶרְתָּהּ. כֵּיצַד. הָיוּ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי שָׂדוֹת לֹא יִקְצֹר אֶת הָאַחַת כֻּלָּהּ וְיַנִּיחַ בַּשְּׁנִיָּה פֵּאָה הָרְאוּיָה לִשְׁתֵּיהֶן. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כג כב) "לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ בְּקֻצְרֶךָ" שֶׁיַּנִּיחַ בְּכָל אַחַת וְאַחַת פֵּאָה הָרְאוּיָה לָהּ. וְאִם הִנִּיחַ מִשָּׂדֶה עַל חֲבֶרְתָּהּ אֵינָהּ פֵּאָה:

One does not leave péah for one field from another field. How so? If a farmer had two fields, he may not harvest one entirely and leave péah of the second one in proportion for both of them, as it is said, (Lev. 23:22) You shall not reap all the way to the end of your field [singular]. He should leave péah of each and every field as is fitting for it. If he leaves [péah] for one field from another, this does not count as leaving péah.

Halacha 2ב׳

הָיְתָה שָׂדֵהוּ זְרוּעָה כֻּלָּהּ מִין אֶחָד וְהָיָה נַחַל בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוֹשֵׁךְ. אוֹ אַמַּת הַמַּיִם שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִקְצֹר מַה שֶּׁבִּשְׁנֵי צְדָדֶיהָ כְּאַחַת וְהוּא שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מוֹשֶׁכֶת וּקְבוּעָה. הֲרֵי זֶה כִּשְׁתֵּי שָׂדוֹת וְנוֹתֵן פֵּאָה מִצַּד זֶה לְעַצְמוֹ וּמִצַּד זֶה לְעַצְמוֹ:

If one has a field that is sown all with one type of crop and a river flows through the field, even though it may not be flowing [that is, it is a stagnant body of water], or it is [merely] a channel of water so wide that one cannot harvest what is on both sides all together and the channel is continuous and permanent, then this is as if there are two fields and one gives péah from one for itself and the other for itself.39For this law through number seven of this chapter, see Mishnah Péah 2:1-2. Water always divides a field into two because one cannot harvest the crop all together.

Halacha 3ג׳

וְכֵן אִם הָיָה מַפְסִיק דֶּרֶךְ הַיָּחִיד שֶׁהוּא רָחָב אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת אוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הָרַבִּים הָרָחָב שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה. אֲבָל שְׁבִיל הַיָּחִיד וְהוּא פָּחוֹת מֵאַרְבַּע אוֹ שְׁבִיל הָרַבִּים פָּחוֹת מִשֵּׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה אִם הָיָה קָבוּעַ בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה וּבִימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים מַפְסִיק. וְאִם אֵינוֹ קָבוּעַ בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיק אֶלָּא הֲרֵי הוּא כְּשָׂדֶה אַחַת:

So also a private road that is at least four cubits wide or a public road that is at least sixteen cubits wide form a partition [between the two parts of the field]. In the case of a private path which is less than four cubits40Ravad objects saying that a private path must be at least four cubits wide in all cases in order to form a partition, otherwise it may merely serve as access between vineyards and fields and not really a road for those passing through. or a public path that is less than sixteen cubits, if it is in regular use during both the dry and the rainy season, then it forms a partition, but if it is not in regular use during the rainy season, it does not count as a partition, and this is considered to be one field [all year round].41In other words, year-round used paths that are less than the minimum width constitute a partition between the fields, but paths not used part of the year do not constitute a partition. See Mishnah Bava Batra 6:7.

Halacha 4ד׳

הָיָה מַפְסִיק בָּהּ אֶרֶץ בּוּרָה שֶׁאֵינָה זְרוּעָה וְלֹא חֲרוּשָׁה. אוֹ אֶרֶץ נִירָה וְהִיא שֶׁנֶּחֶרְשָׁה וְלֹא נִזְרְעָה. אוֹ שֶׁהִפְסִיק בָּהּ זֶרַע אַחֵר. כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיָה חִטִּים מִכָּאן וְחִטִּים מִכָּאן וּשְׂעוֹרִים בָּאֶמְצַע. אוֹ שֶׁקָּצַר בְּאֶמְצָעָהּ אֲפִלּוּ קֹדֶם שֶׁתָּבִיא שְׁלִישׁ וְחָרַשׁ מָקוֹם שֶׁקָּצַר. הֲרֵי זוֹ נִפְסֶקֶת לִשְׁתֵּי שָׂדוֹת. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רֹחַב כָּל אֶחָד מֵאֵלּוּ כִּשְׁלֹשָׁה תְּלָמִים שֶׁל פָּתִיח וְהוּא פָּחוֹת מִבֵּית רֹבַע. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשָׂדֶה קְטַנָּה שֶׁהִיא חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה שֶׁל שְׁתֵּי אַמּוֹת אוֹ פָּחוֹת. אֲבָל אִם הָיְתָה יְתֵרָה עַל זוֹ אֵין הַבּוּר אוֹ הַנִּיר מַפְסִיקָהּ לִשְׁתַּיִם אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיְתָה בּוֹ רֹחַב בֵּית רֹבַע. אֲבָל זֶרַע אַחֵר כָּל שֶׁהוּא מַפְסִיק בָּהּ:

In the case of a field that is divided by fallow land which is not sown or ploughed, or land that is broken up and ploughed but not sown, or land planted with different kinds of crops, such as wheat on either side and barley in the middle, or if one harvested the middle, even if it was before the crop became a third of the way ripe and he ploughed the area he harvested, then this area is divided into two fields. This is in the case of each field [on either side] being at least the width of three furrows of ploughed land, which is a little less than an amount of land required to plant one-fourth of a kav of seed. How does this apply? This pertains to a small field that is fifty cubits by two cubits or less [that one is dividing into even smaller fields], but if it is more, the fallow land or broken land does not form a partition dividing the field into two unless it [the divider] is the width of the amount of land required for one-fourth of a kav of seed.42Maimonides claims that if one has a small, narrow field and wants to divide it into two even smaller fields, if one leaves a portion of uncultivated or simply ploughed land in between two parts of this thin field, then this serves as an adequate partition so long as the two parts are at least three furrows wide and can still be considered a field each in its own right. If, however, the field is not long and thin but larger, the divider itself must be larger, at least as large as an area in which a quarter of a kav of seed might be sown (approximately 100 square cubits). Ravad, however, points out that this is not in accordance with what is written in the Jerusalem Talmud Péah 2:1. There it describes two approaches to dividing a field with fallow or ploughed land. In that source, the sage Rav says that a field may be divided by a section of land large enough to require a quarter of a kav of seed, while Rabbi Yochanan says that the divider need only be three furrows in width. The Talmud goes on to explain that these approaches do not contradict each other, only that Rav defines the divider in terms of total area while Yochanan defines the divider in terms of width, and one could say that a divider of three furrows width is fifty cubits by two cubits, thereby satisfying Rav's measurement. Ravad clarifies that Rav's approach easily pertains when dealing with a very large field, that if one has a square section of 100 square cubits or more of uncultivated or ploughed land in the middle of a very large field, then this can serve as a divider. Yochanan's approach is applicable to the more common scenario of having either a large or a small field where one has a thin strip of land dividing it. Ravad's implication is that Maimonides has confused which measurement goes with which field, that the long, thin field that is fifty by two cubits is the divider and not the total field. In the case, however, of a different kind of crop going down the middle, any quantity of land serves as a partition.

Halacha 5ה׳

אֲכָלָהּ גּוֹבַאי אוֹ קִרְסְמוּהָ נְמָלִים בְּאֶמְצָעָהּ אִם חָרַשׁ מָקוֹם שֶׁאָכְלוּ הֲרֵי זֶה מַפְסִיק:

If locusts consumed [the crop] or ants devoured it down the middle, if the farmer ploughs the land that they ate, then this forms a partition [and each side is considered a separate field].43See Tosefta Péah 1:8.

Halacha 6ו׳

הַזּוֹרֵעַ בָּהָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ כֻּלּוֹ שָׁוֶה אֶלָּא יֵשׁ בּוֹ תִּלִּים גְּבוֹהִים וּמְקוֹמוֹת מְקוֹמוֹת עֲמֻקּוֹת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לַחֲרשׁ אוֹתוֹ כֻּלּוֹ וּלְזָרְעוֹ כְּאַחַת אֶלָּא נֶחְרָשׁ הַמָּקוֹם הַגָּבוֹהַּ בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְהַנָּמוּךְ בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה כְּשָׂדֶה אַחַת וּמַנִּיחַ פֵּאָה אַחַת בְּסוֹף הָהָר עַל כָּל הָהָר:

One who plants on a land with hills so that the entirety of it [the field] is uneven, so there are peaks and valleys, even though one is unable to plough it entirely and to sow it as one but harvests the peaks by themselves and the valleys by themselves, then this is [still] considered to be one field, and one leaves péah for the field at the end of the hilly region for all the hills.

Halacha 7ז׳

מַדְרֵגוֹת שֶׁהֵן גְּבוֹהוֹת עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה מִכָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת. וְאִם הָיוּ רָאשֵׁי שׁוּרוֹת מְעֹרָבִים נוֹתֵן מֵאַחַת עַל הַכּל. הָיוּ פָּחוֹת מֵעֲשָׂרָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין רָאשֵׁי הַשּׁוּרוֹת מְעֹרָבִין נוֹתֵן מֵאַחַת עַל הַכּל. הָיָה סֶלַע עַל פְּנֵי כָּל הַשָּׂדֶה. אִם עוֹקֵר הוּא אֶת הַמַּחְרֵשָׁה מִצַּד זֶה וְנוֹתְנָהּ מִצַּד זֶה מַפְסִיק. וְאִם לָאו אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיק:

If the land forms steps and they are ten handsbreadths high,44In agriculture, this is a common terrace. The land is cultivated to look like large steps down a hillside. one leaves péah for each and every terrace, but if the beginnings of the rows are mixed together [and then the land separates into steps], one gives from one level for the entire area. If they are less then ten handsbreadths high, regardless of whether the beginnings of the roads are mixed together, one gives from one level for the entire area. If there is a rock that runs through the entire field, if one has to unhitch the plough [from behind the animal in order to get the plough] from one side of the rock over to the other side, then this forms a partition, but if it does not [jut out this way] then it does not form a partition.45See Tosefta Péah 1:12.

Halacha 8ח׳

הַזּוֹרֵעַ שָׂדֶה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ אִילָנוֹת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא מַלְבְּנוֹת מַלְבְּנוֹת בֵּין הָאִילָנוֹת וְאֵין כָּל הַזֶּרַע מְעֹרָב נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה אַחַת לְכָל הַשָּׂדֶה. שֶׁדָּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁשָּׂדֶה אַחַת הִיא וּמִפְּנֵי מְקוֹם הָאִילָנוֹת נֶחְלַק הַזֶּרַע:

If one sows a field in which there are trees, even if there are plots of land between the trees but the crops are not mixed in between, one gives péah from one section for the entire field, for it is obvious that this is a single field but because of the location of the trees, the crop was divided.46See Mishnah Péah 3:1.

Halacha 9ט׳

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁהָיוּ הָאִילָנוֹת כָּל עֲשָׂרָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּית סְאָה. אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ כָּל עֲשָׂרָה אִילָנוֹת בְּיוֹתֵר מִבֵּית סְאָה הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה מִכָּל מַלְבֵּן וּמַלְבֵּן. שֶׁהֲרֵי הָאִילָנוֹת מְרֻחָקִים הַרְבֵּה וְלֹא מִפְּנֵי הָאִילָנוֹת זָרַע מַלְבְּנוֹת מַלְבְּנוֹת:

In what situation does this apply? When there are ten trees on an amount of land large enough for one séah of seed, but if among ten trees one can sow more than a séah of seed, then one gives péah for each and every plot, for the trees are spread out and it is not because of the trees that the crop is in different plots.47The issue here is whether or not trees can act as dividers that same way rivers can. Maimonides claims that it depends on the density of the number of trees on the land. Citing Mishnah Péah 3:1 and the Jerusalem Talmud Péah 3:1, Ravad objects that this is not the approach of the sages. In fact, there is a dispute between the Schools of Hillel and Shammai on this point. Those of Hillel state that a plot of land with grain sown in between trees is treated as one field, while Shammai say that the trees act as dividers and the grain in between the trees is divided into separate plots. However, both acknowledge that if the trees are scattered so there is a large space for the grain in between the trees, this is treated as one field, and if there are many trees in a small space, then the trees act as a divider. The point of disagreement comes with the measure of ten trees on an amount of land large enough for one séah seed. Those of Hillel seem to say that this is treated as one field, while those of Shammai say that this is sufficient for a divider. Maimonides follows the rule of Hillel. Ravad, however, states that the Jerusalem Talmud teaches us that the formation of the trees determines the law. If the ten trees on land sufficient for one séah of land are close together, then they form a divider, but if they are scattered, then we should follow the rule of Hillel and treat it as one field.

Halacha 10י׳

וְכֵן מַלְבְּנוֹת הַבְּצָלִים שֶׁבֵּין הַיָּרָק נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה אַחַת לְכָל הַבְּצָלִים. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַיָּרָק מַבְדִּיל בֵּינֵיהֶן וּמְשִׂימָם מַלְבְּנוֹת מַלְבְּנוֹת:

So also with plots of onions, that between vegetables one gives péah for all the onions, even if the vegetables form divisions between them and one places them in different plots.48See Mishnah Péah 3:4.

Halacha 11י״א

שָׂדֶה שֶׁכֻּלָּה זְרוּעָה מִין אֶחָד וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִתְחִילוּ בָּהּ מְקוֹמוֹת לִיבַשׁ עָקַר אוֹ תָּלַשׁ מַה שֶּׁיָּבַשׁ מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן עַד שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר הַלַּח מְפֹרָד מַלְבְּנוֹת מַלְבְּנוֹת מְרֻחָקוֹת זוֹ מִזּוֹ. אִם הָיָה דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם שָׁם לִזְרֹעַ מֵאוֹתוֹ הַמִּין עֲרוּגוֹת עֲרוּגוֹת כְּגוֹן שֶׁבֶת אוֹ חַרְדָּל הֲרֵי זֶה מַנִּיחַ פֵּאָה מִכָּל מַלְבֵּן וּמַלְבֵּן. שֶׁהָרוֹאֶה אוֹמֵר עֲרוּגוֹת עֲרוּגוֹת נִזְרְעוּ. וְאִם הָיָה מִין אֶחָד שֶּׁזּוֹרְעִין אוֹתוֹ שָׂדוֹת כְּגוֹן תְּבוּאָה וְקִטְנִיּוֹת נוֹתֵן אַחַת לַכּל:

In the case of a field that is sown entirely with one type of crop, when certain patches of it begin to dry [and ripen] and [the farmer] uproots and plucks what has dried from here and there leaving the fresh [unripe] crop in separate patches far from each other [so that they appear like separate fields], if this is the usual way for people to sow this kind of crop in separate beds, such as dill or mustard, then he should leave péah from each and every plot, for anyone who sees would say that they were sown in beds.49See Mishnah Péah 3:2. But if this is the kind of crop that people sow in fields, such as grain or legumes, then he gives péah from one patch for the whole crop.

Halacha 12י״ב

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים כְּשֶׁהָיָה יָבֵשׁ מִכָּאן וְיָבֵשׁ מִכָּאן וְלַח בָּאֶמְצַע. אֲבָל לַח מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן וְיָבֵשׁ בָּאֶמְצַע מַנִּיחַ מִן הַיָּבֵשׁ בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וּמִן הַלַּח בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ:

In what situation does this apply? When there is dried [ripe] crop on either side and fresh [unripe] crop in between, but if the fresh [unripe] crop is here and there and the dry [ripe] crop is in between, one leaves [péah] from the dried [ripe] crop for itself and from the fresh [unripe] crop for itself seperately.50Ravad objects strongly, saying that Maimonides has confused two separate, albeit similar, subjects, and Maimonides does not rule in accordance with Jewish law. According to Ravad, Maimonides has confused the law of what happens when one reaps the ripe portion of a field down the middle and thereby creates two separate fields of unripe grain on either side (as taught by Rabbi Akiva in Mishnah Péah 3:2) with the issue of a farmer who plucks casually from here and there in his field and thereby leaves patches behind. As expounded in the Jerusalem Talmud Péah 3:2 attributed to Rabbi Meir in accordance with Rabbi Akiva, if one reaps a ripe portion of a field and in doing so divides a field in half so that the unripe portions are no longer continuous, then one treats these as separate fields and gives péah from each. The law, according to Ravad, only addresses the issue of crops that remain after such a reaping. The Jerusalem Talmud here does not say anything about the case of a farmer plucking from here and there. We do not know what Rabbi Meir would have said in such a case, although the sages rule in accordance with what Maimonides has written, namely, that one who casually reaps in patches gives péah from the whole as one field. Ultimately, Ravad's objection is that Maimonides has oversimplified matters.

Halacha 13י״ג

שָׂדֶה שֶׁזְּרָעָהּ בְּצָלִים אוֹ פּוֹלִים אוֹ אֲפוּנִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן וְהָיָה בְּדַעְתּוֹ לִמְכֹּר מִקְצָתָן לַחִין בַּשּׁוּק וּמַנִּיחַ מִקְצָת הַשָּׂדֶה יָבֵשׁ וְיַעֲשֶׂה מִמֶּנּוּ גֹּרֶן. חַיָּב לְהַנִּיחַ פֵּאָה לְזֶה שֶׁמּוֹכֵר לַח בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְלָזֶה שֶׁקּוֹצֵר אוֹתוֹ יָבֵשׁ בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ:

In the case of a field sown with onions, beans, peas, or similar items, if one's intention was to sell part of it fresh in the market and leave part of it to dry for storage, one is obligated to leave péah for that which one sells fresh separately and for that which one harvests dry.51See Mishnah Péah 3:3.

Halacha 14י״ד

הַזּוֹרֵעַ אֶת שָׂדֵהוּ מִין אֶחָד אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֵׂהוּ שְׁתֵּי גֳּרָנוֹת מַנִּיחַ פֵּאָה אַחַת. זְרָעָהּ שְׁנֵי מִינִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ גֹּרֶן אַחַת נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה לְמִין זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וּפֵאָה לְמִין זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ:

If one who sows his field with one type of crop, even if he can make two store-chambers52"Store-chamber" is one definition and is used here for the sake of consistency and known to the common reader. "Threshing floor" is another definition and may be more precise in this context. out of it, he leaves péah for it as one unit. If he sowed two types of crops, even if he can only make one store-chamber out of it, he gives péah for each type of crop separately.53See the first part of Mishnah Péah 2:5.

Halacha 15ט״ו

זָרַע שְׁנֵי זְרָעִים מִמִּין אֶחָד כְּגוֹן שֶׁזְּרָעָהּ שְׁנֵי מִינֵי חִטִּים אוֹ שְׁנֵי מִינֵי שְׂעוֹרִים. אִם עֲשָׂאָן גֹּרֶן אַחַת נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה אַחַת. שְׁתֵּי גֳּרָנוֹת נוֹתֵן שְׁתֵּי פֵּאוֹת. וְדָבָר זֶה הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי:

If one sowed two types of seed for one kind of crop, such as having sowed two types of wheat or two types of barley, if one makes one store-chamber out of it, then he should give péah for it as one unit. If he makes two store-chambers, then he should give two portions of péah [one from each]. This is the law of Moses at Sinai.54See Mishnah Péah 2:5-6. The expression "the law of Moses at Sinai" indicates an established tradition not derived explicitly from the Torah.

Halacha 16ט״ז

הָאַחִין שֶׁחָלְקוּ נוֹתְנִין שְׁתֵּי פֵּאוֹת. חָזְרוּ וְנִשְׁתַּתְּפוּ נוֹתְנִין פֵּאָה אַחַת. הַשֻּׁתָּפִין שֶׁקָּצְרוּ חֲצִי הַשָּׂדֶה וְאַחַר כָּךְ חָלְקוּ. זֶה שֶׁלָּקַח הַקָּצִיר אֵינוֹ מַפְרִישׁ כְּלוּם. וְזֶה שֶׁלָּקַח הַקָּמָה מַפְרִישׁ עַל הַחֵצִי שֶׁלָּקַח בִּלְבַד. חָזְרוּ וְנִשְׁתַּתְּפוּ וְקָצְרוּ הַחֵצִי הָאַחֵר בְּשֻׁתָּפוּת. כָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶן מַפְרִישׁ מֵחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁבַּקָּמָה עַל חֵלֶק חֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁבַּקָּמָה אֲבָל לֹא עַל הַחֵצִי שֶׁנִּקְצַר:

Brothers [who are business partners, probably because of their inheritance] who separate [and dissolve their partnership] need to give two portions of péah [one apiece]. If they come back together as partners, they give one portion of péah. If partners harvest half of a field and then separate, the one who took the harvested portion does not set aside anything [for péah], and the one who took the standing grain sets aside [péah] for the half he took alone.55A qualification for péah is that it is still standing. If they came back and became partners again, and harvested the other half in their partnership, each of them sets aside [péah] from his portion of standing grain over against the portion of his partner's standing grain, but he does not [set aside péah] over the portion that was previously harvested.56See Mishnah Péah 3:5.

Halacha 17י״ז

שָׂדֶה שֶׁהִגִּיעַ חֶצְיָהּ עַד שְׁלִישׁ וְחֶצְיָהּ לֹא הִגִּיעַ. וְהִתְחִיל וְקָצַר בְּחֵצִי שֶׁהִגִּיעַ חֶצְיוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ הֵבִיאָה כֻּלָּהּ שְׁלִישׁ וְאַחַר כָּךְ גָּמַר הַחֵצִי הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ בַּתְּחִלָּה. מַפְרִישׁ מִן הָרִאשׁוֹן עַל הָאֶמְצָעִיִּים וּמִן הָאֶמְצָעִיִּים עַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְעַל הָאַחֲרוֹן:

In the case of a field, half of which became one-third of the way ripe and half of which did not, so he [the farmer] began to harvest the half which had begun to ripen and completed harvesting only that half. Then after some time the whole remaining part of the field [that was not ripe at all] became one-third of the way ripe and then he completed harvesting the first part. He should then set aside péah from the first section on the intermediate section [that is, for the first section that he harvested, he sets aside péah for the whole first half of the field that had become one-third of the way ripe] and on the intermediate section from the first and the last [that is, on the second half that became one-third of the way ripe, he sets aside péah for the entire field].

Halacha 18י״ח

הַמּוֹכֵר מְקוֹמוֹת מְקוֹמוֹת מִשָּׂדֵהוּ לַאֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה. אִם מָכַר כָּל הַשָּׂדֶה כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה אַחַת מֵחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁלָּקַח. וְאִם הִתְחִיל בַּעַל הַשָּׂדֶה לִקְצֹר וּמָכַר מִקְצָת וְשִׁיֵּר מִקְצָת. בַּעַל הַשָּׂדֶה נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה הָרְאוּיָה לַכּל. שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁהִתְחִיל לִקְצֹר נִתְחַיֵּב בַּכּל. וְאִם מָכַר תְּחִלָּה מַפְרִישׁ הַלּוֹקֵחַ עַל מַה שֶּׁלָּקַח וּבַעַל הַשָּׂדֶה עַל מַה שֶּׁשִּׁיֵּר:

In the case of one who sells from different places [a bit from here and a bit from there] in his field to many people, if he [eventually] sold the entire field [this way], each one of the buyers must give péah for the lot that they took. But if the [original] owner of the field began to harvest it, having sold part and kept part, the owner of the field must give péah for the entire field, for when he began to harvest it he became liable for all of it. But if he sold part of it first, the one who takes must set aside [péah] from what he took and the owner of the field from what he kept.57See Mishnah Péah 3:2. Maimonides' ruling is at variance from the Mishnah.

Halacha 19י״ט

שְׂדֵה אִילָן אֵין מַפְסִיק בָּהּ אֶלָּא גָּדֵר גָּבוֹהַּ הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין הָאִילָנוֹת. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הַגָּדֵר מַבְדִּיל מִלְּמַטָּה וְהַבַּדִּים וְהַפְּאֵרוֹת מְעֹרָבִין מִלְּמַעְלָה וְנוֹגְעִין בַּגָּדֵר עַל גַּבּוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה כְּשָׂדֶה אַחַת וְנוֹתֵן פֵּאָה לַכּל:

In a field of trees, the only thing that can form a partition is a fence tall enough to separate the trees, but if there is a fence separating the lower part of the trees and the branches and the crowns of the trees are entangled up above, touching one another over the fence, then this counts as one field, and one gives péah [in one portion] for it all.58See Mishnah Péah 2:3.

Halacha 20כ׳

שְׁנַיִם שֶׁלָּקְחוּ אִילָן אֶחָד נוֹתְנִין מִמֶּנּוּ פֵּאָה אַחַת. לָקַח זֶה צְפוֹנוֹ וְזֶה דְּרוֹמוֹ זֶה נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה לְעַצְמוֹ וְזֶה נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה לְעַצְמוֹ:

Two people who took [produce] from [different branches of] one tree give [together] one portion of péah. [But if one] took from the north [of the tree] and the other from the south, then each gives péah from his portion separately.59See Mishnah Péah 3:5.

Halacha 21כ״א

הֶחָרוּבִין כָּל שֶׁאָדָם עוֹמֵד בְּצַד חָרוּב זֶה וַחֲבֵרוֹ עוֹמֵד בְּצַד חָרוּב זֶה וְרוֹאִין זֶה אֶת זֶה הֲרֵי הֵן כֻּלָּן שָׂדֶה אַחַת וּפֵאָה אַחַת לְכֻלָּן. הָיוּ שְׁנֵי הַצְּדָדִין רוֹאִין אֶת הָאֶמְצָעִיִּים וְאֵין הַצְּדָדִים רוֹאִין זֶה אֶת זֶה מַפְרִישׁ מִצַּד אֶחָד מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנִים עַל הָאֶמְצָעִיִּים וּמִן הָאֶמְצָעִיִּים עַל הָרִאשׁוֹנִים. אֲבָל לֹא יַפְרִישׁ מִצַּד זֶה עַל הַצַּד הָאַחֵר:

In the case of carob trees [which grow very tall with a great deal of space in between them], all that someone standing on one side [of the field] with another standing on the other side [of the field] can see counts as one field and one gives one portion of péah for them all. If the two sides can see [trees] in between them but they cannot see each other [through the trees], one tithes by dividing the trees in between in proportion to each side, but he may not set aside [péah] from one side [of the field] all the way to the other [side, as if it is one large field].60Referring to Mishnah Péah 2:4, Ravad raises an objection. Whereas Maimonides rules that people must be in sight of one another through the carob trees to form one unit, Ravad claims that it is not the people who must be in sight but the trees themselves. The Mishnah states that carob trees that are all in sight of one another are counted as one unit as far as the giving of péah is concerned because of the great height of carob trees. That is, one who climbs up the tree counts the other carob trees that are in sight, regardless of fences in between them, and this constitutes one group of trees. Carob trees, like sycamores, are in a special category because of their height, as seen also in Mishnah Bava Batra 2:11, where it states that one cannot plant a carob tree near a well because of the way it spreads out (presumably with its roots as well as branches).

Halacha 22כ״ב

הַזֵּיתִים כָּל מַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ מֵהֶן בְּרוּחַ אַחַת מֵרוּחוֹת הָעִיר כְּגוֹן זֵיתִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּמַעֲרַב הָעִיר כֻּלָּן אוֹ בְּמִזְרָחָהּ הֲרֵי הֵן כְּשָׂדֶה אַחַת וּפֵאָה אַחַת לְכֻלָּן:

In the case of olive trees, all trees located on one side of the city, such as the west of the city or in its entirety, or to the east, count as one field, and one portion of péah [is given] for all.

Halacha 23כ״ג

הַבּוֹצֵר אֶת מִקְצָת כַּרְמוֹ מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן כְּדֵי לְהָקֵל מֵעַל הַגֶּפֶן עַד שֶׁיִּמְצְאוּ שְׁאָר הָאֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת רֶוַח וַיּוֹסִיפוּ הוּא הַנִּקְרָא מֵדֵּל. וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ שֶׁהַבּוֹצֵר מֵרוּחַ אַחַת אֵינוֹ מֵדֵּל וּלְפִיכָךְ נוֹתֵן מִן הַנִּשְׁאָר פֵּאָה הָרְאוּיָה לַכּל. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבָּצַר לַשּׁוּק. אֲבָל אִם הֵדֵּל לִמְכֹּר בַּשּׁוּק אֵינוֹ נוֹתֵן פֵּאָה לְזֶה שֶׁהֵדֵּל. הֵדֵּל לְהָבִיא בְּבֵיתוֹ נוֹתֵן מִן הַנִּשְׁאָר שֶׁהִנִּיחַ לִדְרֹךְ פֵּאָה אַחַת הָרְאוּיָה לַכּל:

When one harvests grapes partially from different patches of his vineyard in order to lighten the vine so that the remaining space in between the clusters widens, it is called "thinning." We have already explained61See 2:6. that one who harvests grapes all from one side is not thinning and therefore must give péah for the whole crop, regardless of whether he takes them to market [instead of saving them for wine]. But if he thinned out the vines in order to sell [those grapes] in the market, he does not need to give péah for that which he thinned out. But if the grapes that were taken in the thinning out were brought into his home, then he gives péah from the remainder that he left to be stamped [in the wine press] as due for the whole crop [including the ones he brought into his house].62See Mishnah Péah 3:3.