For there will never cease to be needy ones from the midst of the land, which is why I command you: open your hand to your fellows, your poor and your needy in your land. [JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen? 2. What power dynamics are at play? 3. The text states that there will always be poverty. What is your response to this? 4. There is often a concern that being an activist will not result in real change. According to this text, real change is not the purpose of activism. How would you use this text to respond to such a concern?
Every seventh year you shall practice remission of debts. This shall be the nature of the remission: every creditor shall remit the due that he claims from his fellow; he shall not dun his fellow or kinsman, for the remission proclaimed is of God. You may dun the foreigner; but you must remit whatever is due you from your kinsmen. There shall be no needy among you -- since your God will bless you in the land that your God is giving you as a hereditary portion -- if only you heed your God and take care to keep all this Instruction that I enjoin upon you this day. For your God will bless you as God has promised you: you will extend loans to many nations, but require none yourself; you will dominate many nations, but they will not dominate you. If, however, there is a needy person among you, one of your kinsmen in any of your settlements in the land that your God is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman. Rather, you must open your hand and lend him sufficient for whatever he needs. Beware lest you harbor the base thought, “The seventh year, the year of remission, is approaching,” so that you are mean to your needy kinsman and give him nothing. He will cry out to God against you, and you will incur guilt. Give to him readily and have no regrets when you do so, for in return your God will bless you in all your efforts and in all your undertakings.
[JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. What power dynamics are at play?
3. What are the reasons debt relief has been such an important topic in global issues?
4. What lessons does this text offer governments could use when writing policy on lending and debt?
ת"ר בשלשה דברים גדולה גמילות חסדים יותר מן הצדקה צדקה בממונו גמילות חסדים בין בגופו בין בממונו צדקה לעניים גמילות חסדים בין לעניים בין לעשירים צדקה לחיים גמילות חסדים בין לחיים בין למתים.
Our Sages taught: Gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) is greater than tzedakah in three ways: Acts of tzedakah involve only one’s money – gemilut chasadim can involve both money or one’s personal service. Tzedakah can be given only to the poor – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the rich and for the poor. Tzedakah can be given only to the living – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the living and the dead.
[AJWS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. In what ways can acts of lovingkindness be done for the wealthy?
2. How can we add lovingkindness to our tzedakah?
3. How can we add lovingkindness to our foreign assistance policies? to our domestic policies?