the itinerant and local poor through two collections, tamhui and kupah* along with the regulations for distribution. Kupah took care of the longer term needs of the poor on a weekly basis and so dealt with the local poor. The sums were generally distributed on Friday by three officials and were intended to provide fourteen meals, two per day, for an entire week. Funds were collected by two communal officials from anyone who had been in residence for three months. Gabbai or parnas were the titles used to designate these collectors, so they were leaders of the community. The task was an honor but involved much work and responsibility. The intermingling of funds as well as the exchange of coins, and so on were prohibited. Everything possible was done to raise the system above suspicion.
Tamhui consisted of daily collections, that were immediately distributed and so were largely intended for the itinerant poor; this was a kind of soup kitchen. Collection of it— in kind or moneys—, was mandatory and was gathered by two communal officials and distributed by three; in other words the equivalent of a bet din. The distribution was considered more difficult than the collection(B.Shab. 118a). These individuals received absolute trust and were not required to present an audit(B.B.B. 9a). Those who did not contribute were subject to fines, whipping, or the ban.
Other specifics were also included so the itinerant who could not store anything must be given a loaf of bread(defined by the value of a Roman coin), a place to sleep or funds to rent one, and three meals if he stayed over shabbat. Anyone who had enough for two meals could not qualify for famhui distributed each evening(for the non-local poor); if he had enough for fourteen meals, he could not collect the next distribution of kupa, which took care of the local poor.(Peah 8:1). It was collected on a weekly, monthly, or twice annual basis. Those too proud to receive it could be forced, in a nice