Ten Minutes of Torah

with

Rabbi Chaim Weiner

Reeh - 5766

דברים כג: כ - כא

(כ) לֹא תַשִּׁיךְ לְאָחִיךָ נֶשֶׁךְ כֶּסֶף נֶשֶׁךְ אֹכֶל נֶשֶׁךְ כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁךְ:

(כא) לַנָּכְרִי תַשִּׁיךְ וּלְאָחִיךָ לֹא תַשִּׁיךְ ...

Deuteronomy 23:20-21

You shall not deduct interest from loans to your countrymen, whether in money or food or anything else that can be deducted as interest;

but you may deduct interest from loans to foreigners. Do not deduct interest from loans to your countrymen, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings in the land that you are about to enter and possess.

Ramban

He explained here that a heathen’s interest is permissible. He did not mention this with reference to robbery and theft, as the Rabbis have said. “Theft from a heathen is forbidden.” But borrowing for interest, which is agreed upon by both parties and is done voluntarily, was forbidden [by the Torah] only because of brotherliness and kindness … for it is an act of mercy and compassion that one does for his brother by lending him without interest, and it will be accounted to him for righteousness.

Hizkuni

The foreigner who plants and harvests and reaps, who can sell and pay, you may dun.

Be’ur

The annulments of debts in the seventh year, and the prohibition against interest are civil laws, which are not obligated by rational justice. They are obligations that derive from the will of He who commanded, and therefore the foreigner does not benefit of them.

QUESTIONS

1. What question are these three commentaries trying to answer?

2. What answer does each one give?

Answers to last week’s question:

1. What problem in the verse are these commentators addressing?

The verse describes the manna as a hardship and a trial. How could this miraculous gift from God - providing food for the people for 40 years in the desert without them needing to work for it - be a trial?

2. How does each solve the problem?

Ramban: The trial was dependence. They had their food provided for them, but they were totally dependent on God for it, with no control over their destiny, and no assurance that they would have anything the next day. It was a test of their faith.

Sforno: The trial was plenty. Many people turn to God when they are in need, but turn away from God when all of their needs are provided. Would the people be faithful when they had plenty?

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Ten Minutes of Torah was prepared by Rabbi Chaim Weiner, based on the methods of Prof. Nechama Leibowitz. Rabbi Weiner studied and corresponded with Prof. Leibowitz for several years.

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