What is the best way in which we can give financial help to another?
The Shulchan Aruch in Choshen Mishpat tells us that when one gives a loan to a needy person, of course the Torah tells us we may not receive interest, but when giving that loan, one should have a contract, and there should be witnesses. This is in order that the receiver should not claim at a later time, that he wasn’t given the money. You need to have proof in order to protect yourself.
However, the Shulchan Aruch also tells us in Yoreh Deah that if you’re giving charity to a poor person, the finest way to do it is in secret. In fact, the ultimate form of charity is when the receiver doesn’t even know who the giver is.
So how is that possible? On the one hand, we need witnesses, and on the other hand, it needs to be done in secret.
The Chida derives an answer from a passuk in Parshat Mishpatim. It is a seemingly clumsy verse. The Torah says, “אם כסף תלוה את עמי את העני עמך,” translated literally as, “If you give a loan of money to someone within the people, the poor are in your midst.”
What sense can we make of these words?
The Chida tells us to read it as follows: “אם כסף תלוה,” – If you are giving a loan, “את עמי,” – if you would like to receive that money back, and you want to have proof, it must be done ‘את עמי’, in the presence of other people within the nation, in order that you should be protected. However, “את העני,” – “if you’re giving money to a poor person, as an outright gift or perhaps even as a loan just to save his dignity, so that the person feels better but you don’t ever expect to get it back, then “עמך,” – it should be just with your knowledge only. No announcement, no contract and no witnesses.
So therefore in our rich, G-d-given heritage we can see how within Jewish tradition, the rights of those who give are always protected and at the same time, we should go the extra mile in order to preserve the dignity of those who are receiving.
So let’s go the extra mile and join together to ask Him to keep our soldiers, police and medical professionals safe, especially through these trying times by adding a special prayer for the healing of all those injured, for the safe return of those taken as hostages, as well as Divine Protection for our brave IDF soldiers, Police officers, medical professionals, Firefighters, ZAKA members, security personnel and all those citizens protecting us in Israel as well as around the world, and for those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, safe, quiet and sweet Shabbat.
