MISHPATIM: Where you sit, matters

אם כסף תלוה את עמי את העני עמך לא תהיה לו כנושה לא תשימון עליו נשך

In this week’s Parasha we have a large number of Mitsvot. Many of these Mitsvot refer to our attitude towards our neighbor. Among them is our obligation to assist the needy.

The rabbis described this commandment, tsedaqa, explaining that there are eight categories of material assistance to the needy. The highest category is to help someone to avoiding financial collapse before he gets in a situation where he needs to ask for assistance. How do you do that ? For example: a) Offering work to someone who lost his job. b) Lending money to someone who does poorly in his or her business preventing his falling.

Referring to this second case, the Tora says that the creditor should not charge interest for the loan. Also, the creditor can’t harass the debtor, for example, going to his home, or embarrassing him in front of his family or friends, etc.

Another important lesson we learn from this verse is related to a little word that might go unnoticed. That little word is ‘ami (עמי), “My People”

God speaks of the poor as “My People”, that is, the people of God. The Sages said the following: “HaShem is very different from a human being. In most cases, when someone has a poor family member, he does not like to be seen with him or her, because he does not want to be identified with the poor …. but when someone has a rich relative, runs to him, tries to take a selfie with him,  and does everything in his power  to show himself in his company. Why? Because being next to the rich and powerful enhances his own image and prestige … HaShem acts differently: when He says “My People” he is not referring to the richest and most powerful but to ‘the poor among you’.   HaShem sides with the poor, identifies with them, and teaches us to do the same.

It is not uncommon, unfortunately, that people who are not wealthy – especially if they are publicly known to be needy- are literally left out. At a social event or a party, not many wants to sit at their table. Everyone wants to be in the company of the rich, and be seeing with them.

This pasuq teaches us that we should learn from God and treat those who have less than us with a special deference. Providing material help is important, but it is also important to help the feelings of this who have less than us!  This Pasuq teaches us that we should behave toward those who have less than us in the same way you would like to be treated if you were in that condition.

This beautiful verse teaches us a huge lesson.   HaShem is with the poor, and identifies His presence with the most needy. Being or sitting next to those who have less is a great act of humility, kindness, empathy and above all, an act in which we imitate one of the attributes of our Creator.