Sifra Kedoshim Chapter 2

¹1) From here (the above) they ruled: These intervene (to create two fields) for purposes of peah: a stream, a rivulet, a way for one (four cubits), a way for many (sixteen cubits), a path for many and a path for one, passable in the dry season and in the rainy season, an uncultivated (field), newly broken land, (a field which is sown with) other seed (aside from the regular), and (a field which is) cut for fodder. These are the words of R. Meir. The sages say: It does not intervene unless he plows it. ²2) A permanent water duct is (regarded as) intervening. R. Yehudah says: If (as a result) the fields cannot be cut as one, it is (regarded as) intervening. And for all mounds which can be hoed with a (hand) hoe, even though the cattle cannot cross them with their gear, he gives one peah for all. ³3) All things intervene for seeds; and only a fence of twenty handbreadths intervenes for trees. If their boughs were intertwined (above the fence), it does not intervene, but he gives one peah for all. ⁴4) And for carob trees, as long as he can see one (of the trees on the other side of the fence while standing beside) another, (the fence is not regarded as intervening). R. Gamliel said: My father's house was wont to give one peah for all the olives on each side, and for carobs, wherever one could be seen from the other. R. Eliezer b. Tzaddok says in his name: The same was done even for carobs that they had in the whole city. ⁵5) "And the gleaning (leket) of your harvest (you shall not cut"): And not the leket (that falls) from plucking (by hand). "and the leket of your harvest": Only leket which comes from harvesting is regarded as leket. From here they ruled: If he harvested his handful or plucked his fistful and was stuck by a thorn or stung by a scorpion, and it fell from his hand to the ground, it belongs to the owner (of the field). (If it fell) from the midst of his hand or from the movement of the sickle (while he was harvesting), it belongs to the poor. (If it fell) after his hand or after the sickle (i.e., as the result of a non-harvesting related movement), it belongs to the owner. (If it fell) from the tip of the sickle of from his finger tips, R. Yishmael says: It belongs to the poor; R. Akiva says: It belongs to the owner. ⁶6) "You shall not gather … (Vayikra 19:10) for the poor": Do not aid the poor man (in gathering, for you thereby lessen another's chances). "You shall not gather": The poor man (who owns a field) is hereby being exhorted (to leave leket) from his own.