In this week’s reading, Hashem tells us to lend money to others when they are in need. This is in addition to giving charity; it is a separate obligation, applicable to those who do not need outright gifts, but temporary help to meet the needs of the moment.
Within the family, among Jews, it is prohibited to take interest. Such loans must be entirely free.
This, paradoxically, can make a loan more difficult than a charitable gift. People don’t get their names on buildings by giving a loan, and even the internal feeling is one of risk rather than satisfaction. It is only natural for poeple to want their money to work for them.
Recognizing this, the Torah says “and you shall fear your G-d” [25:36]. As Rashi explains, a person is drawn after the interest, and it is difficult to set it aside. So he imagines it might be permissible because his own money is “sitting idle” in someone else’s hands. This is why, Rashi says, the Torah adds this admonition.
The section discussing this Mitzvah concludes, “I am Hashem your G-d, who Took you from the land of Egypt to give you the Land of Canaan, to be for you a G-d” [25:38]. The Yalkut comments, “all who acknowledge the Commandment against charging interest acknowledge the Exodus from Egypt, and all who deny the Commandment against charging interest deny the Exodus from Egypt.”
What does this mean? How could charging interest be tantamount to denying the entire Exodus?
The Ksav Sofer first explains, like Rashi, that it can be difficult for people to lend their own hard-earned money with no return. And then he offers a parable: imagine that Reuven helped Shimon get started in business, investing a large sum, but on condition that when one of Reuven’s children later approached Shimon for a loan, that Shimon would lend money to Reuven’s child without interest. Is it not obvious that Shimon would happily accept, and keep, the deal, without feeling reluctant or resentful when Reuven’s child asks for a loan?
So it is in our situation, concludes the Ksav Sofer. Hashem brought us out of Egypt, enriching us in the process, with the condition that we will, in the future, loan to others of His children without interest. And thus a person who keeps this Commandment, helping others without interest, acknowledges all the good that Hashem did for us, by taking us out of Egypt!
