Parashat Mishpatim

Parashat Mishpatim

By Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

The Torah states in Parshat Mishpatim, “If you lend money to any of My people, even to the poor amongst you, you should not be to him as a creditor; neither should you put interest on him” (Shmot 22:24).

From this pasuk, we learn about lending money to people in need.We also know that the commandment of charity also exists. Which is the greater deed—lending money or giving tzedaka?

The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (63a) says that lending money is the greater mitzvah. Rashi explains that there is more dignity in receiving a loan then receiving charity.

The Rambam says that it is better to assist someone monetarily since it will prevent him from falling into poverty, rather than helping someone who has already become impoverished. Looking at the Rambam it is not as clear whether charity or a loan is better.

To understand the Rambam’s opinion more clearly, we should look in the Rambam’s commentary on the halachot of “Gifts to the Poor” (10:7). The Rambam says that it is our duty to help people in need whether through charity, a loan, some sort of partnership, or finding them work, which would enable them to become self sufficient, and thereby decrease their dependency on others.

Therefore the Rambam emphasizes in both sources that one is supposed to help a person so that ultimately he or she will be able to stand on his or her own two feet. If a person is able to become self-sufficient through charity, then charity is just a helpful as a loan.

This is the foundation for the philosophy of JobKatif. By giving grants, JobKatif invests in the people of GushKatif so that they can start businesses and make their own parnassa. By giving charity, JobKatif sends people to professional retraining courses, to enable them to retrain and get back to the workforce.

All of the facets at JobKatif exist so that we can fulfill the precept of charity as the Rambam sees it, and help people stand on their own feet again.

Shabbat Shalom!