The poorest and most “needy” type of person is someone who is “poor” in mind. Our Sages thus said: “No one is poor save he who lacks knowledge” (Nedarim 41a). He may be poor in spiritual knowledge and he therefore commits sins. It is a great mitzvah to guide him back to repentance and to put him on the path of truth. This is a very great merit. Or he may be poor in material knowledge of the workings of this world. Since he does not know how to behave, he ruins his business affairs and occasionally he disgraces himself in front of other people. It is a mitzvah to teach this type of person and instruct him with the knowledge he needs —whether social, business etc.].
Every person should contemplate this: If you had son in a distant city, and that son does not know how to go about his needs intelligently, how much would you wish that there would be someone in that city who would look out for him and guide him on the best path, using the most level-headed advice? That is exactly how you should behave towards your fellow who needs that kind of assistance. All of this is included in the mitzvah of Love your fellow as yourself. As the Rambam explained this mitzvah: One should care about his fellow’s possessions as he cares about his own possessions, and one should care about the dignity of his fellow as he cares about his own dignity.
