Up to this point we have been discussing the ordinary form of loving-kindness, whereby a person lends money to his fellow. But another type of loan is when an individual begins to collapse financially, and by giving him a loan the lender figuratively holds his hand that he not collapse and need handouts from others. This type of loan is greater than ordinary kindness, because in this situation the lender fulfills an additional mitzvah, as is written, If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him — proselyte or resident — so that he can live with you (Vayikra 25:35). And if Hashem assists, and thanks to this loan the borrower and his family remain alive, than the Holy One considers it as though the lender gave life to the borrower and his family.
