In this week's parsha we read about the mitzvah of lending money to a fellow Jew. Obviously the Torah prohibits lending to a fellow Jew with any type of interest. It is considered a grave sin to lend to a fellow Jew with interest. When our fellow Jew needs help which is generally the case when someone needs a loan we should try our best to help them out. The last thing we should do is to look at the situation as an opportunity to "make a quick buck" by charging interest. Providing a loan is considered in some sense a much greater mitzvah than giving Tzedakah, charity and this is because providing a loan allows a person to re-establish themselves and get their footing before they actually fall into a dire situation in which they may need actual charity.

Chazal teach us that "more than the rich man does for the poor man, the poor man does for the rich". If we lend money, give charity etc. we always look like we are doing the person a favor, but we don't realize how much that person is actually doing us the favor. We can obtain great merit by helping our fellow Jew, financially. In many cases a person will only provide someone with financial success in order for them to help out someone else. A son may become wealthy for the sole purpose of being capable of his parents. Have you been given wealth? Look around your family and friends. Are there people that could use help? Have you thought that the reason you are so successful might be just in order to help provide for this person? It is all too common to see a very wealthy man that has a less fortunate brother that may be struggling. Why doesn't he help? Why doesn't he open his eyes? If he knew that the whole reason that Hashem has blessed him with wealth is only to help his brother he would be happy to help. We should realize that we are given success in order to share it with others and in some cases that is the only reason that we are successful.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath