Mishpatim: Rav Yochanan Zweig: Mitzvah 73 – Concept 527

“When you lend money to My people, to the poor person who is with you, do not act toward him as a creditor.” (Exodus 22:24) Do not press a lender for payment if you know that he does not have the ability to pay the loan. (Rambam, Hilchot Malveh V’Loveh – The Laws of Creditor and Debtor)

My Rebbi, Rav Yochanan Zweig, explains that we must realize that we entirely exist on God’s compassion. He gives us everything we have, and it is impossible to repay Him for all He gives. When a person presses a debtor to repay, he is also denying this fact of his existence. He is forgetting God’s compassion and generosity.

Give charity as an acknowledgment that God gives everything we have. This is another reason I refer to Tzeddaka Boxes as Thank You Machines.