Agricultural Gifts To The Poor: A Mitzvah For Sukkot

by: RonitTreatman

Fri Sep 28, 2012 at 01:47:00 AM EDT

It is a mitzvah to give gifts to the poor during Sukkot.  Which type of gift?  The farmers of Ancient Israel were required to give a tithe, ma'aser, of their harvest (Numbers 18:21-24) to the Levites.  This harvest consisted of wheat, barley, oat, spelt, and rye.  In addition, they had to give a tithe of their production of wine, olive oil, fruit, and cattle.  In modern times, most of us live in cities.  How can we fulfill this mitzvah?

More after the jump.

In the Philadelphia area, there is a very efficient way to accomplish this.  You may select from several pick-your-own orchards. Sukkot is apple and pumpkin season in Pennsylvania. If you pick ten pounds of apples, you should donate one pound to the poor.  

Which organization can you trust to distribute your donations to the needy?  Philabundance has teamed up with the pick-your-own orchards to collect extra fruit for exactly this purpose. We went apple picking in Linvilla Orchards. Philabundance will accept donations right at the orchard, and distribute them directly to those who need them.  Alternatively, you may contact Philabundance to donate your fruit at your convenience. If you would like to help the needy in Israel, Leket is a wonderful organization that gleans the fields and distributes this harvest all over the county.

What can you prepare with the apples and pumpkins that you kept for yourself?  Here are some tasty suggestions you may serve to guests in your sukkah.

Jewish Apple Cake
Adapted from Traci & Jeff Poole

• 4 Large, freshly picked apples
  
• ½ cup orange juice (squeeze your own for best flavor)
  
• 4 large eggs
  
• 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla
  
• 4 teaspoons cinnamon
  
• 3 cups unbleached flour
  
• 1 cup vegetable oil
  
• ½  teaspoon salt
  
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 2 ½ cups sugar
  
• 5 tablespoons sugar (do not add to the previous sugar)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
2. Peel and core the apples.  Slice them.  Mix them in a bowl with 4 teaspoons of cinnamon and 5 tablespoons of sugar.
   
3. Set the bowl aside.
   
4. Mix all the other ingredients in a separate bowl.
   
5. Oil a bundt pan.
   
6. Pour some batter in.  Add a layer of the apple mixture.
   
7. Keep alternating between layers of batter and apples.  
   
8. The top layer should be the apple mixture.
   
9. Bake the cake for 1 ½ hours to 1 ¾ hours.

Fresh Pumpkin Bread From A Pumpkin
Adapted from Laurie Bennet

• One whole pumpkin
  
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
  
• 3 cups sugar
  
• ¼ teaspoon ginger
  
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• ½ teaspoon cloves
  
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  
• 3 ½ cups unbleached flour
  
• 1 cup vegetable oil
  
• 2/3 cup water
  
• 4 eggs

1. Place the whole pumpkin in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven.
   
2. Bake it for one hour.
   
3. Allow the pumpkin to cool.
   
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
5. Slice the pumpkin in half.
   
6. Reserve the seeds for roasting.
   
7. Scoop out the flesh.
   
8. Mix one cup of mashed pumpkin with the other ingredients.
   
9. Oil three 7x3 inch loaf pans and distribute the batter equally between them.
   
10. Bake for 50 minutes.