Parashat Emor is well known for its containing the "parashat ha-mo'adim," the section dealing with the festivals. In concluding its discussion here of the festival of Shavuot (23:22), the Torah reiterates the obligations of "leket" and "pei'a," various portions of one's field that he must leave for the poor. Those who paid attention this past Shabbat know that we already encountered these mitzvot in Parashat Kedoshim (19:9). Rav Moshe Feinstein suggests that these two references to these mitzvot signify two distinct aspects of the obligation. In Parashat Kedoshim, the Torah seeks to implant within the farmer's consciousness a keen awareness of his limited ownership over his property. By allocating specific portions to the poor, the farmer expresses his acknowledgment of the Almighty as the true owner of "his" field, or, more accurately, the field that he is granted the right to till. In our context in Parashat Emor, the Torah presents two mitzvot directed towards the same purpose: the "omer" offering, brought from the first harvest on the sixteenth of Nissan, and the "korban shetei ha-lechem," the bread offering brought on Shavuot. One may have thought to exempt the field that provided the grain for these offerings from the obligations of "leket" and "pei'a," as the purpose of these mitzvot have already been fulfilled. The Torah therefore introduces here a second element: the interest in helping those in need. Even fields regarding which the owner has already demonstrated his awareness of God's authority require "leket" and "pei'a," in order to help the underprivileged of society.
In essence, these two elements of this mitzva reflect the central, most general themes of our receiving of the Torah, which we commemorate on Shavuot. The Torah demands two forms of devotion and self-sacrifice: to the Almighty, as it were, and to others. Certain mitzvot help no one but the performer himself, reinforcing his sense of submission to his Creator. The second category of mitzvot are those that directly benefit others. Through them, the individual expresses his appreciation of the roles played by those around him. On Shavuot, then, we reaffirm both these commitments, to sharpening our humble acceptance of the yoke of Heaven and heightening our sensitivity towards the needs of others.
Courtesy of Yeshivat Har Etzion - www.etzion.org.il