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LEVITICUS | 19:9 gleanings — LEV316 The Bible and later Judaism understand th[...

LEV316 The Bible and later Judaism understand th[e] fundamental, divine value of each person and related values to require support to meet the needs of the poor. The Torah mandates practices in the context of a farming community. The corners of one's fields, cleanings, and forgotten produce are to be left for the poor to take, in addition to a tithe for support of the needy [this and following verse]. Rabbinic Judaism developed the Hebrew Bible's value of justice (tzedek) and institutions for support of the needy into tzedakah. That which is to be given to the poor never simply belonged to the giver, but was God's, and was owed to the needy as their right. Codifying traditions that go back to the Talmud and beyond, the Shulhan Arukh, the authoritative 16th century code of Jewish law, states that "each individual is obligated to give to the poor.… If one gives less than is appropriate, the courts may administer lashes until he gives according to the assessment, and the courts may go to his property in his presence and take the amount that it is appropriate to give." S.A. Yoreh De'ah 248:1 (Continued at [[DEUT743]] Deuteronomy 15:8 needy OXFORD 346). (By Aaron L. Mackler, "Jewish Bioethics: The Distribution of Health Care")

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Source KeyOXFORD
Verse19:9
Keyword(s)gleanings
Source Page(s)345-6
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