B"H
Thursday Iyar 22, 5777 / May 18, 2017 (37th day of the Omer)
This Shabbat we will read the last two Parshiot of the book of Leviticus, B’har & Bechukotei.
Parshat B’hardeals mostly with the laws of the Sabbatical year(Shemitah) and the Jubilee year(Yovel). The Sabbatical year was every seven years and the Jubilee year was every fiftieth year.
Every seventh day of the week we observe Shabbat, which was given to the Jewish people as a day of rest from physical work, so that we can concentrate and connect to our G-dly spiritual source. This is done through prayer and study. Every seventh year was a year in which the field was left to rest in Israel, so that a Jew will take off an entire year from working in the field and dedicate that year to the spiritual aspect of life.
The laws of Shemitah apply to this day in Israel. But the laws of the Jubilee year applied only during the time of the Beth Hamikdash, while all the Jews lived Israel.
One of the other mitzvot in the Parsha is the prohibition to take interest, when lending money to another Jew. One is not allowed to lend on interest and one is prohibited to pay interest. This applies only between Jews. When borrowing from a non Jew or when lending to a non Jew one is permitted to give or to take interest.
In the days of Hillel the Elder, the rabbis realized that people were refusing to lend money, which was hurting those who needed it most. They then came up with the “Heter Iska” – a document between the lender and borrower, which transforms the transaction into a business partnership, whereas instead of it being considered interest it is a percentage of the profit.
Q.The Torah says, “Your money you should not give him upon interest” (Leviticus 25:37). The Torah uses the expression, “Neshech,” for interest. The word “Neshech” means “to bite.” Why does the Torah use the expression “bite” when talking about interest?
A. In addition to the prohibition of lending on interest, the Torah gives the lender a lesson in how to perform the mitzvah of lending money to one in need. It is also a lesson in giving Tzedakah-charity.
Usually, when one comes for a loan, it’s because they fell upon difficult times and need help. The same is with charity, when the one in need and must ask for help.
The Torah tells the wealthy person, “Your money you should not give him bitingly.” Make him feel good when giving him the loan or the contribution. Don’t give it to him bitingly, with a negative remark, which will add to his pain. Give it to him with a smile and say a good word to him. Our sages tell us that when we make the poor and needy feel good, then the Tzedakah we give them becomes a much greater mitzvah and the reward is much greater.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY