Amongst the many mitzvos appearing in these parshiyos is the commandment not to charge interest on a loan.
Rav Shimon Schwab, zt”l, in Maayan Beis Hashoeva, notes that this mitzvah is surely not logical when considered in the context of other commercial ventures. If we can charge our fellow Jews for the time that we loaned them our car or any of our possessions, why draw the line at the use of our money?
A most important and pointed lesson can be learned from the language of the pesukim that tell us to refrain from charging interest. The Torah commands us to take heed when our fellow Jew becomes poor and support him the best we can.
But in no case should we charge our “brother” interest.
Notice, says Rav Schwab, how our fellow Jew is referred to in this context as “your brother.”
Yes, commercially, there may not be any valid reason to distinguish between lending out any merchandise and being compensated for the use of the money, but we should always remember that in a family, things are different.
Our Creator is teaching us an important life lesson. The entire Jewish people is one big family, and we must treat each other as such!
We have discussed this topic before. Young Jewish people are becoming owners of companies in staggering numbers, thanks to Amazon and other such platforms.
These young business owners must learn what most successful heads of companies have learned over the years. Giving a job to members of our community is a chesed that yields many great dividends.
There can be no better segulah for the success of your business than looking out for these employees. They have families, needs, wishes, and dreams. They have an obligation to work honestly at their position with full dedication to detail. But we, on the other hand, have a special obligation to make sure they are compensated well and treated with the respect they deserve.
Hashem says, “If you take care of Mine” – those who look to you to be treated fairly – “then I will take care of yours” – your family, your business, and all that belongs to you.
We are all one family – and family takes care of one another.
RABBI YY JACOBSON
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Zion Sneh Shlita
