Pe'ah

Pe'ah ( and ,, . It consists of eight chapters and has a Gemara ("Completion") from only the Jerusalem Talmud. Of general interest are the first and last mishnayot in the tractate. Pe'ah begins with a declaration that there is no maximum limit to pe'ah (one can give as much of the produce in his field to the poor as he desires once the harvest has begun), bikkurim (the first-fruits, the pilgrimage, acts of lovingkindness, and Torah study. After exhorting one to give his all to God and man, the mishnah states that a person receives reward in this world and the next by honoring his father and mother, doing acts of lovingkindness, making peace between people, and that the study of Torah is equivalent to them all. Likewise, the concluding mishnah is a compilation of ethical homilies warning people against feigning poverty, improperly taking from charity and perverting justice. On the other hand, it lauds the poor person, who is eligible to be supported by charity, yet refuses public funds, working hard and living frugally. To such a person, the verse from Jeremiah 17:7 is applied: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord; and the Lord will be his trust."

External links

* of mishnah Pe'ah at Wikisource
* of mishnah Pe'ah at Hebrew Wikisource
* [http://mechon-mamre.org/b/h/h12.htm Full text (Hebrew)] of mishnah Pe'ah