פרשת משפטים (Copy)

(כד) אִם־כֶּ֣סֶף ׀ תַּלְוֶ֣ה אֶת־עַמִּ֗י אֶת־הֶֽעָנִי֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ה ל֖וֹ כְּנֹשֶׁ֑ה לֹֽא־תְשִׂימ֥וּן עָלָ֖יו נֶֽשֶׁךְ׃

Exodus 22:24

(24) If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, do not act toward them as a creditor; exact no interest from them.

שמות כ״ב:כ״ה-כ״ו

(כה) אִם־חָבֹ֥ל תַּחְבֹּ֖ל שַׂלְמַ֣ת רֵעֶ֑ךָ עַד־בֹּ֥א הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ תְּשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ לֽוֹ׃ (כו) כִּ֣י הִ֤וא כְסוּתֹה֙ לְבַדָּ֔הּ הִ֥וא שִׂמְלָת֖וֹ לְעֹר֑וֹ בַּמֶּ֣ה יִשְׁכָּ֔ב וְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־יִצְעַ֣ק אֵלַ֔י וְשָׁמַעְתִּ֖י כִּֽי־חַנּ֥וּן אָֽנִי׃ {ס}

Exodus 22:25-26

(25) If you take your neighbor’s garment in pledge, you must return it before the sun sets; (26) it is the only available clothing—it is what covers the skin. In what else shall [your neighbor] sleep? Therefore, if that person cries out to Me, I will pay heed, for I am compassionate.

מכילתא דרבי ישמעאל, מַסֶּכְתָּא דְכַסְפָּא א׳:א׳

(א) (שמות כב,כד) ["אִם כֶּסֶף תַּלְוֶה אֶת עַמִּי, אֶת הֶעָנִי עִמָּךְ, לֹא תִהְיֶה לוֹ כְּנֹשֶׁה, לֹא תְשִׂימוּן עָלָיו נֶשֶׁךְ."] "אִם כֶּסֶף תַּלְוֶה אֶת עַמִּי". רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: כָּל "אִם" וְ"אִם" שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, רְשׁוּת, חוּץ מִזֶּה וְעוֹד שְׁנַיִם: (ויקרא ב,יד) "וְאִם תַּקְרִיב מִנְחַת בִּכּוּרִים לַיי, אָבִיב קָלוּי בָּאֵשׁ גֶּרֶשׂ כַּרְמֶל תַּקְרִיב אֵת מִנְחַת בִּכּוּרֶיךָ."*גֶּרֶשׂ כַּרְמֶל: גרעיני דגנים שבורים, בורגול. חוֹבָה, לֹא רְשׁוּת. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר חוֹבָה, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא רְשׁוּת? תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: "תַּקְרִיב אֵת מִנְחַת בִּכּוּרֶיךָ", חוֹבָה, לֹא רְשׁוּת.

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Tractate Kaspa 1:1

(1) (Exodus 22:24) "Im you lend money to My people": R. Yishmael says: Every "im" (generally "if") in the Torah connotes optionality, with the exception of this and two others; (Leviticus 2:14) "And im ("when") you offer a meal-offering of first-fruits," where it is mandatory. You say it is mandatory, but perhaps it is optional? It is, therefore, written (Ibid. 14) "You shall bring the meal-offering of your first-fruits." It is mandatory and not optional.

What does the word משפטים mean? ___________________________________________________________
How many mitzvot are in this week's parasha? ____________________________________
What is interest when it refers to money? ______________________________________________________
What is usury?
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What is the Hebrew word for "interest" in the verses from the parasha? __________________________________
What is the word for "snake"? __________________________________________________________________
How is charging interest like a snake bite?
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Can we totally do without charging interest in today's economy? Why not?
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Is it a mitzvah to loan money to someone who asks for it? ___________________________________________________
Why might the lender be hesitant to loan money? _________________________________________________________