Negative commandment · Lo Ta’aseh #229 of 613
To not forsake the Levite, from giving him his gifts
שלא לעזוב הלויים
The verse · Devarim 12:19
הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן־תַּעֲזֹב אֶת־הַלֵּוִי כׇּל־יָמֶיךָ עַל־אַדְמָתֶךָ
“Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.”
The Rambam’s words
Not to forsake the Levites, as [Deuteronomy 12:19 states: "Be very careful not to abandon the Levite." Rather, we must give them the portions they are due and rejoice with them on each of the festivals.
שלא לעזוב הלויים, שנאמר "הישמר לך, פן תעזוב את הלוי" (דברים יב,יט), אלא נותנין להם מתנותיהם ומשמחים אותם בהן בכל רגל ורגל.
Why · Sefer HaChinuch #450
To not forsake the Levite, from giving him his gifts
“It is from the roots of the commandment [that it is] because G-d, blessed be He, wanted the good of His people, Israel, that He chose as a people and wanted to give them merit and to make them a paragon in His world — a wise and understanding people — in order that all who see them would recognize them as the seed of the blessed of G-d, men of truth and men of repute.”
Who & when
“And this commandment is practiced when Israel is on their Land.”
Where in the Mishneh Torah
Hilchot Festival Offering הלכות חגיגה