Shabbat Parashat Re'eh - 5786

Shabbat Parashat Re'eh - 5786

Rabbi Hal Miller

  However there shall be no destitute among you for blessing God will bless you

  in the land that Hashem your God will give you as an inheritance to take

  possession of it. [Devarim 15:4]

  For destitute people will not cease to exist within the land, because of this I

  command you saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your

  poor one, and to your destitute in your land. [Devarim 15:11]

These two verses seem to conflict. The first says there will be no poor and the second says poor will not cease to exist. How do we reconcile them? Between these two appear other verses commanding how to handle the poor among us, so our question really revolves around the meaning of our first verse, 4.

Rashi follows Sifrei that the answer comes in verse 15:5, "only if you will hearken to the voice of Hashem your God to observe", meaning that if Israel performs the commandments there will be no destitute in the nation, thus whenever Israel does not observe the Torah, there will be poverty-stricken people among us. Rashi seems to be saying that this is a situation of "while", indicating that although there are violations now, there is room in the future for this reward of no poverty.

This leaves us to wonder whether the verse means observance by all of Israel or only part, whether all of the Torah or only part, whether only Israel or all the nations, and whether only in the land of Israel or everywhere. 

Rashbam understands that the verse refers only to Shemittah. Ramban notes that verse 5 states "to perform this entire commandment", meaning the entire Torah. There are some who say it applies only to Shemittah and Yovel, but most opinions follow Ramban. Rav Hirsch answers our question regarding all or part of Israel that "'among you' can only be said about a community" thus even though much content of these verses is written in the singular, all Israel must participate. Although following in the idea of community versus individual obligation, Rav Soloveitchik explains our verse applies to individuals, and the equivalent verse in Vayikra [25:35] applies to the community. Rav Hirsch adds that verse 11 reconciles with 4 that although there will be no destitute in Israel, there will always be "within the world", which is an equally legitimate translation of "within the land". Ramban says that the word means 'land', that although there will not be poor in the land of Israel, there will be poor among Jews living outside the land.

Torah Temimah brings Sifrei that verse 15:7 states we must give to one who sits "in your gates", which in those days was the entrance to the city and the place where commerce and judgment were done. Thus the ruling is that "if one begs from door to door (as opposed to sitting in the gates) you are not bound to give to him". This is the source relied upon in places that only allow meshullachim and the destitute to collect from local rabbinic discretionary funds, not from the public. Further our verses are the source for the rules of precedence for tzedakah, who one gives priority to before others.