In this week's Parsha we learn about the Mitzva of lending money to a Jewish person in need. It is forbidden to take interest on a loan. The Passuk writes "Im kesef talve es ami" - 'when you lend money to my people', "es he'ani imach" - 'to the poor person with you'. Rashi adds an interesting line. 'Es he'ani emach - the poor man with you, histakel be'atzmecha - look at yourself, ke'ilu ata ani - as if you were the poor man.'
What is Rashi trying to teach us?
There is a very interesting Gemarah in Baba Basra (6:). There were two neighbors who lived in a two story building. One lived in the ground floor entrance apartment and one lived on the second floor, with steps from outside. The building was poorly built and the walls of the building started sinking, and living conditions became unbearable for the downstairs occupant with such a low roof.
The downstairs owner turned to his neighbor and said, "let's rebuild the house."
The neighbor replied, "I have no problems, my apartment is fine. Till now I had twenty stairs to walk up, now I only have twelve."
"I will rebuild everything at my expense!"
"But while you rebuild, I have nowhere to live."
"I will get you an apartment and pay your rent."
"I can't be bothered with all the hassle of packing and moving out."
"But I can't live like this!"
"Why not? What's the problem? Just bend over and crawl into your apartment! At least once inside you can sit down."
Rav Chama said, "Halachicly, the upstairs neighbors is right!"
Yes you're right! But how can you be so cruel! so uncaring! Stop for a moment, step out your shoes and put yourself in your neighbor's shoes for two minutes. Imagine you're the downstairs neighbor, how would you feel? Would you still have the same opinion?
A poor man comes to your door. Hashem has destined for you to give and for him to receive. Rashi tells us, imagine you were the poor man, how would you like to be treated? Now step back into your own shoes again and act from this new perspective!
A wealthy man came to the Sanzer Rav, Rabbi Chaim Halberstam zt"l, and told him the following. "I have an amazing son full of top qualities and Baruch Hashem I found him a super good girl from a wealthy home and they're engaged. Both sides promised a large dowry so the Chassan can continue his Torah studies. However, the Kallah's father fell in with a bad business deal and lost his money and is on the verge of declaring bankruptcy. He stands no chance keeping to his financial undertaking. I have no choice to break up the engagement. However since breaking a Shidduch is not a simple matter I have come to ask the Rebbe for his agreement."
The Sanzer Rav replied, "I am glad you came." The man was overjoyed. "Can I tell the other side that that the Rebbe agreed to my decision," asked the man?
"G-d forbid, I never said that," replied the Rebbe.
"But the Rebbe said, it was a good thing I came."
"Sure," replied the Rebbe, "it is very good that you came and told me that he is about to go bankrupt and not you, and you want to break up the engagement. Can you imagine if the Kallah's father would have come and told me that you are about to declare bankruptcy and that he wants to break off the engagement?! How would have you reacted then? How cruel, not enough that I am losing my money and you're ok, you still want to break off the engagement?"
"Now that you're the one that Baruch Hashem is still well off, be considerate, forgo the dowry and send him money to cover all expenses, and Hashem will pay you back many times over," declared the Rebbe.
That is was Rashi meant, "Let's try and feel what it is to be the other person, the poor man!"
