Preface – 15

Yet another positive commandment one is likely to violate by not extending a loan – and is the central one in this area – is the specific mitzvah to extend loans. The Torah instructs: When you lend money to My people, to the poor man among you (Shemos 22:24). Our Sages explain that although the Torah uses the word imאם] , which literally means “if,” here it means “when” and the instruction is not optional but obligatory: one is obligated to extend a loan to a poor person when he is pressed for funds. The Torah repeats this injunction and says: Extend to him any credit he needs (Devarim 15:8), which is an additional mitzvah regarding loans.