In this session on the שם משמואל we discussed the odd positioning of Rosh Hashanah in the Torah. The holidays are discussed in פרשת אמור and this is how we read about Rosh Hashanah:
ויקרא פרק כג
(כב) וּבְקֻצְרְכֶם אֶת קְצִיר אַרְצְכֶם לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ בְּקֻצְרֶךָ וְלֶקֶט קְצִירְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם אֲנִי ה’ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם:
(כג) וַיְדַבֵּר ה’ אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר:
(כד) דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם שַׁבָּתוֹן זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ:
What is the connection between the mitzvah of פאה and Rosh Hashanah?
The שם משמואל points out that generally, the mitzvoth of the Torah involve “firsts.” Examples of the se mitzvoth are ביכורים, פדיון הבן, בכור בהמה טהורה, פטר חמור and ראשית הגז. The mitzvah of פאה is the exception to this pattern. The mitzvah of פאה is to leave a remainder of one’s field unharvested for the poor. This is a mitzvah that we fulfill at the end of a process and not at its beginning. The שם משמואל says that this is the basis of the connection of פאה to ראש השנה. At the conclusion of the year we may be inclined to think that our work is over, we are done. But what Hashem wants from us is to enter the new year with the intention of renewing ourselves. פאה is the final mitzvah of the harvest, but after the harvest the farmer performs the mitzvoth of תרומה ומעשרות. The first day of the new year is not a time for reflection on what we have done. Rosh Hashanah is a day for accepting responsibility for ourselves and our actions. The שם משמואל quotes the legendary Rabbi Bunam zt”l who said that on Rosh Hashanah we don’t patch ourselves up, we recreate ourselves as if we are re-born.
The idea of renewal is central to Rosh Hashanah. There is a custom to say the שהחיינו blessing over a new fruit on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. This custom symbolizes the idea of Rosh Hashanah being a holiday for renewal.
There is a midrash which discusses the significance of the mitzvah of פאה. The Midrash says that the mitzvah of פאה basically means that the farmer does not clear away all of his grain. As a reward Hashem promises not to clear away the Jewish people (חלילה) should we sin. The שם משמואל quotes his father ) the author of the Halacha works אבני נזרand אגלי טל) who explains this connection. The אבני נזר asked why is פאה ( which is apparently another form of charity) more significant than the other forms of charity. The אבני נזר said that when someone gives charity to the poor it is a merciful act and in turn Hashem shows mercy to us. But when a farmer leaves portions of his harvest for the poor to take from his field he creates a close relationship with the poor. This relationship is a reflection of the close relationship which Hashem has with the poor (as we can learn from ישעיה נז:טו ). Our closeness to the poor creates a closer relationship with Hashem. We are inspired to follow Hashem without question , naturally, and so we detach ourselves from our sins and climb to a higher level. This is the significance of the mitzvah of פאה and the idea which connects it to Rosh Hashanah.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the shiur. Shanah tovah. Stuart Fischman