DEUT761 Because of the extreme importance of the mitzvah of gemiluth chesed, we have devoted much attention to the need for everyone to set aside a larger or smaller sum for a permanent Free Loan Fund in his own home. Yet obviously not everyone can afford the money. Others again cannot afford the time the performance of the mitzvah entails. For those unable to establish such funds privately, the best advice is to ban together to form a Free Loan Society to lend money to others in their hour of need. Indeed, it is it has been the custom throughout all the scattered Jewish communities to organize such a society in every city. To evaluate the greatness of the mitzvah performed by the members of a community in setting up such a fund is quite superfluous. Our introduction and many of the subsequent chapters have pointed out the grievous sin committed by anyone closing his fist against lending to others and a great reward earned by whoever fills this method. Naturally, then, no one with any intelligence will rest until he sees a Free Loan Society existing in his city to lend to the needy. In this way, his fellow citizens and he himself will avoid the possibility of committing a grave sin. For it could conceivably happen that a poor man would take his security pledge and approach several people for a loan. Each would offer another excuse for refusing. Then the poor man would return home crushed. He would cry out and remonstrate with God against his evil lot. And we know what Scripture has to say on the subject [this verse]. The guilt will fall on everyone's neck since, on account of the frequency of such needs, all are duty-bound to prevent such incidents.