YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Behar
What do we learn from the prohibition on paying and taking interest?
This week's Torah portion of Behar (Vayikra 25,1-26,2) deals with several societal mitzvot, such as the Shmittah (the seventh-year fallow) and Yovel (Jubilee) years, the redemption of lands, and the ban on taking or paying interest. One of the words for interest is neshekh, from the same root as neshikha, bite. One who takes interest takes a "bite" from the live flesh of his borrower.
The Torah's prohibition on interest stems from a spiritual principle: One must not make easy profits at the expense of the weakness of the other. When a person lends money and charges interest, he is taking advantage of the borrower's neediness in order to make money off him. The profit here is not from creative work, but only on the "time" that the money is in the hands of the borrower.
Our Sages teach us here an important principle: The equation Time is Money is wrong; the correct one is Work equals Money! When one works and makes a profit, the work itself is productive, and the money is just a result – as opposed to one who lends money, where there is no productivity.
We did not come into this world in order to make easy money. Rather, we are here to create. We are here to form relationships with each other, where no one takes advantage of anyone else – and thus we constructively build the reality around us, for ourselves and others. This is also the reason why we have the mitzvot of Shmittah and Yovel: so that we can press restart on our social frameworks, and ensure that the gaps between people are not too large. If we succeed, the opportunities for one to take advantage of others are limited.
These are important principles to remember all year round, but they are all the more critical especially now, during the Counting of the Omer! This period is a time in which historically, R. Akiva's students were not sufficiently sensitive of their colleagues – and so we must make doubly sure not to repeat those mistakes today. It is therefore customary to study Pirkei Avot during these weeks, because the Mishnayot of Avot serve as an introduction to the laws of monetary matters, teaching us how to behave properly in our dealings with our fellow man.
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Rabbis in Midrash
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
