Our Sages said about a person who does not do kindness with others that “Whoever turns a blind eye to charity is considered as though he committed idolatry” (Kesubos 68a). This includes a person who refuses to give loans to others, as is written with regard to such people: Be careful that there be no unconstrained thought in you heart to say… (Devarim 15:9), and with regard to idolatry it is written, Men without constraint (b’li’ya’al), from among you, went out and led the inhabitants of their city astray… (ibid. 13:14). Now, if someone would call another person a “b’li’ya’al,” how angry would that other person become towards the name-caller! A person would be upset about this even if he would be called that name in private. If so, how distressed must a person be with himself if because of his own actions the Torah refers to him as a b’li’ya’al! And how much shame will he suffer over this in the World Above, after he passes away.
