Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tetze
The best way to give tzedaka is to "teach one to fish," as then the poor person will be able to provide for his family, and if he is fortunate, for others as well. Lending money to enable someone to start a hopefully successful business is the best system. In such a case, it does not have to be a loan but it can be an "investment," in which the benefactor receives profits from the business, as long as he also is a "partner" regarding losses (i.e., not receiving his full investment back). Otherwise, profits are ribbit (usury). It is permissible to ask for financial assurances, whether co-signers or collateral, to ensure that what is owed is returned, as this is not one of the things the Torah forbids concerning loans.
The borrower has to try with all his might to return the loan. The Torah refers to a borrower as an "eved" (servant) of the creditor (Mishlei 22:7), and such terminology has far-reaching moral consequences. Chazal coined a parallel term – "It is a mitzva to pay to the creditor" (Ketubot 86a); this too should strengthen the borrower’s resolve. Our parasha promises the lender who follows the rules: "For you it will be considered an act of charity before Hashem" (Devarim 24:13).
The Torah warns greatly not to put pressure on the borrower who is unable to pay on time (see Shemot 22:24). Chazal say that this prohibition includes passing before the borrower for no good reason, which is embarrassing for him. This teaches a powerful lesson about being careful about the dignity of another, and certainly for someone who is forced to borrow and then unable to pay. It is even more obvious that one should not use more palpable pressure.
Let us address the question from the title – Can one lend to Hashem, or even more than that? A pasuk says "One who lends to Hashem is one who is merciful to the poor" (Mishlei 19:17). A gemara discussing tzedaka (Bava Batra 10a) continues shockingly. "Only because there is a pasuk can we say this – it is as if we can say that the borrower (Hashem) is a servant to the creditor of the poor." This is a powerful message, one which echoes throughout the parasha.
To show how different the Torah’s approach to debtors is from that of other nations, we will see next week what other nations did in Biblical and Talmudic times with those who owed money.
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