Rambam In-Depth: The Gizbar’s Hidden Power of Tzedakah
A class by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah: Only a poor person can legally acquire pei’ah on behalf of another specific poor person because he himself is entitled to take it.
by COLlive Editor · COLliveRabbi Heschel Greenberg has launched a new series of classes on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah in response to the Rebbe’s call to learn at least one halacha in depth.
The Rebbe initiated a major effort to unite all Jews with the study of the entire encyclopedic work, Mishneh Torah, by learning three chapters a day and completing the entire work in less than a year. Alternatively, one can learn one chapter and complete the entire Mishneh Torah in close to three years. The Rebbe also gave a third option to study Maimonides’ companion work, Sefer Hamitzvos that parallel the Mishneh Torah.
In addition, the Rebbe requested that we learn one halacha in depth.
We recently began the 46nd cycle of Mishneh Torah which inspired Rabbi Greenberg to record brief classes on selected passages of the Mishneh Torah.
Rabbi Heschel Greenberg is a shliach of the Rebbe in Buffalo NY and the Director of the Jewish Discovery Center, and, for over 50 years, has taught thousands of classes on all aspects of Jewish knowledge.
Rabbi Greenberg has also authored dozens of works on diverse subjects including several volumes of commentary on the Mishneh Torah.
Many of Rabbi Greenberg’s classes can be accessed on his website rabbigreenberg.com.
In this focused deep dive, we unpack one of the most practical and controversial halachos in all of Hilchos Matnos Aniyim: Can someone take pei’ah (the poor man’s corner of the field) on behalf of a specific poor person? And what happens when a gizbar (community treasurer) tries to redirect tzedakah money that was mentally designated for poor people in another city?
The Rambam gives a clear but shocking answer in Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 4:19. Then the Tzemach Tzedek brings this exact question in Yoreh Deah and compares the gizbar to a shaliach (agent) versus a poel (worker). The Shach, Tumim, and Nesivos all weigh in — and the implications for modern Jewish fundraising, designated donations, GoFundMe campaigns, and community tzedakah funds are massive.
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