5786/2026
The Torah warns us about the prohibition of taking interest from a fellow Jew. The Pasuk (25:26) states:
“Al Tikach Mei’Ito Neshech VeTarbit VeYareita MeiElokecha VeChei Achicha Imach,” “Do not take from him interest and increase; you shall fear your God—and let your brother live with you” (VaYikra 25:36).
Rav Shimon Schwab questions the premise of this prohibition. A Jew is allowed to charge rent for his animal’s use. Therefore, why is there a prohibition against receiving payment for the time that he rents it out? Rav Schwab explains that in a framework of a family, there really is no room for Ribit. Ribit undermines the love and comradery of the Jewish People. Therefore, the Torah emphasizes the word Achicha in the context of this prohibition.
This idea also appears in the prohibition of taking revenge on a fellow Jew. Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch (Horeb) explains the reason behind this extremely tempting prohibition. If the left hand wounds the right hand, should the right hand take revenge on the left hand? Of course not, as that would be completely absurd. This same logic also applies to Am Yisrael. As Rav Hirsch writes, “Are we not all members of one entity, children of one house, limbs of one body, does there not live in all of us a Divine breath? Do we not all suffer by the sufferings of another, share our brothers’ wrongs- and will you out of revenge main your own self?”
The prohibitions of Ribit and revenge are a timely message for Sefirat HaOmer. We just recently experienced a period of mourning due to the lack of Kavod between the students of Rabi Akiva. A lack of Kavod between fellow Jews has been plaguing the Jewish People for countless years. A potential solution is recognizing that the Jewish People are truly one family. Internalizing the fact that we are a true family will hopefully propel us to treat everyone with authentic love and respect. Establishing a true familial bond throughout Klal Yisrael will Im Yirtzeh Hashem be the final step in the bringing of Mashiach!