17 – The Mitzvah of Lending / Chapter One

2. The mitzvah of loaning is not limited to loans of money. Lending all sorts of] items is also included, because it all stems from the attribute ofchessed-kindness. The only difference between lending money and objects] is that with regard to lending money there is a special positive commandment, as noted earlier.

3. This mitzvah, of lending items, applies even if it is a wealthy person who wishes to borrow it. Nevertheless, when a poor person comes to borrow an item, there is a greater obligation to lend it to him, for perhaps he does not currently have the money to purchase these tools that he needs.