TorahFax bs"d. Friday, Shevat 28, 5760 / February 4, 2000 One of the 53 laws-mitzvot in this week's Parsha, Mishpatim, is the commandment to help the poor and needy whether through charity or a loan. The Torah states, "When you will lend money to My people, to the poor with you, you shall not press him, neither shall you place upon him interest...for when he will cry to Me, I will hear for I am merciful." The mitzvah of helping people in need is called "Gemilat Chasadim" - "performing deeds of kindness." Gemilat Chasadim, according to our sages, is in a way even greater than charity (Tzedakah). Charity can only be performed with the poor. But one can perform the mitzvah of Gemilat Chasadim, helping someone with a loan, for anyone who is in need. In Proverbs (19) we are told that the charity (tzedakah) we give to the poor is considered a loan - "it is a loan to G-d Who is trustworthy to repay." Our sages explain that G-d repays not only the amount which we gave to charity, but He pays back much more in ways which only He can. G-d says, "you have helped the poor person when he was hungry and thus kept him alive, I will repay you also a soul for a soul, by saving your child's life when he/she will be in need." In light of the above, some rabbis say that the above mentioned verse in the Parsha, "for when he will cry to Me, I will hear for I am merciful" can be explained in two ways. It can be the cry of the poor person in the case where he was refused charity. But it can also be understood as the cry of the one who gave the charity. G-d says to the giver, if you will be generous and help the poor, "when you will be in need and cry to Me for help, I will hear [your request] for I am merciful." The Baal Shem Tov teaches that whatever judgment we pass upon others comes back to us. If, when we see others in need, we have pity, help, and pray for them, we too will be helped when in need. However, if we judge others harshly and justify their suffering, we may be passing judgment upon ourselves, G-d forbid. The Talmud tells us that Rabbi Eliezer would always give a "peruta" (small coin) to a poor person before starting to pray. For in order to evoke G-d's mercy upon us, we must do the same to others. Rabbi Schneur Zalmen, founder of Chabad, would collect money to support the needy in Israel. For this purpose he would send collectors to the cities and villages where his Chassidim lived. One Chassid earned his livelihood by peddling his wares throughout the area. Whenever he made an extraordinary deal which earned him extra money, he would attribute it to the fact that there was a special need for charity. "I'm sure," he would say, "that when I come home one of the Rebbe's collectors will be waiting for me!" This Shabbat we bless the new month Adar 1. Rosh Chodesh will be Sunday (Feb. 6) and Monday (Feb. 7). SHABBAT SHALOM TorahFax Web Page at: www.torahfax.net Refuah Shleimah page at: www.torahfax.net/refuah.html