Tikkun Olam 4/2

He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it; If you have studied much Torah, you shall be given much reward. Faithful is your employer to pay you the reward of your labor; And know that the grant of reward unto the righteous is in the age to come.

He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it; If you have studied much Torah, you shall be given much reward. Faithful is your employer to pay you the reward of your labor; And know that the grant of reward unto the righteous is in the age to come.

Charity and InterestIf, even after this, an individual continues to deal commercially with produce of the sabbatical or Jubilee years, he will incur still greater financial loss and be forced to borrow money at interest. Hence, I will now review some of the laws of charity and interest: If your brother Israelite is becoming destitute, then you must take pains to support him, i.e., come to his financial aid, as soon as his “hand,” i.e., his financial power, begins to falter beside you, so that he can continue to live with you in financial solvency, for it is far easier to help him before his financial collapse than afterward. You must demonstrate this concern for him even if he be a convert, and even if he be a resident alien, who can only partially be considered your “brother.” If he ultimately does become destitute, you must loan him money or give him a gift of charity, as you have been taught and will be taught in greater detail later.

It is taught (in a baraita): Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yosei, said: "All acts of charity and kindness that Jews perform in this world make great peace and are great intercessors between the Jewish people and their Father in Heaven, as it is stated (Jeremiah 16:5), 'so said the Lord, "Enter not into a house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them, for I have taken away My peace from this people," says the Lord, "both kindness and mercy."' 'Kindness' - this is acts of kindness; 'mercy' - this is acts of charity." It is taught (in a baraita): Rabbi Yehudah says, "Great is charity in that it advances the redemption, as it is stated (Isaiah 56:1), 'So said the Lord, uphold justice and do charity, for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.'" He would say, "Ten strong entities were created in the world. A mountain is strong, but iron cleaves it. Iron is strong, but fire melts it. Fire is strong, but water extinguishes it. Water is strong, but clouds bear it. Clouds are strong, but wind disperses them. Wind is strong, but the body withstands it. The body is strong, but fear breaks it. Fear is strong, but wine dispels it. Wine is strong, but sleep drives it off. And death is stronger than them all, but charity saves [a person] from death, as it is stated (Proverbs 10:2, 11:4), 'and charity delivers from death.'"