DEUT1283 People sometimes note that Torah law permitted Israelites to charge interest on loans to non-Israelites, but not to fellow Israelites [this and following verse], and that despite [French rabbi Menachem] Meiri [(1249-ca. 1310)]'s ruling [that all discriminatory legislation in the Talmud applied only to ancient pagans and idolaters who rejected the moral teachings of the Bible, and the belief in one God], Jewish law still permitted them to do so. However, this is not an example of discriminatory legislation. The reasoning of Jewish law can be described as follows: Since non-Israelites charged interest on loans to Israelites, and everybody else, and still do, Israelites were and are permitted to charge interest to non-Israelites. The regulation against charging interest to fellow Israelites was a special provision, a sort of family solidarity with our coreligionists (just as we can imagine a family patriarch or matriarch instructing his/her children and descendants not to charge interest on a loan to a close relative, particularly if the loan is made to cover urgent, personal expenses).

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DEUT1279 Even the borrower transgresses because of: "You shall not give interest to your brother," (verse 21): "You shall not cause your brother to take interest," and (Leviticus 19:14): "And you shall not place a stumbling block before the blind" (Bava Metzia 78b)

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DEUT1281 It was taught: R. Shimon b. Yochai says: Whence is it derived if one is owed a manah by his neighbor, and he [the borrower] is not accustomed to greeting him, he is not permitted to do so [such a greeting being construed as "interest"]? From: "interest of any thing" [davar (also construable as "dibbur" ["speech"])] -- Even speech [as in the above instance] is forbidden (Bava Metzia 78b)

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DEUT1282 It was taught: R. Shimon says: Whence is it derived that he [the lender] should not tell him [the borrower]: Go and greet that man, or: Find out if that man has come from his place? From: "interest of any thing" ["davar" -- "dibbur"] (Sifrei)

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DEUT1287 See [[DEUT780]] Deuteronomy 15:10 bless SPERO 25-6

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DEUT1288 Ethical Implications of "Chosenness". A deep and abiding motivation in Jewish ethics is the conviction of being "chosen" by the Lord for a special task. The biblical doctrine of the Chosen People was reinforced in the course of time by the recognition of the historic role that the Jewish people have played in originating and disseminating the doctrine of ethical monotheism. Even secularist Jewish thinkers, like A'had Ha'am and his followers, believed that, as Jews, they were heirs of a unique genius and of a unique destiny in the realm of spiritual values. This awareness of a distinctive past and a special destiny was usually, but not always, associated with the belief in the mysterious racial qualities of "the holy seed." In any case, this conviction heightened the sense of responsibility of Jewish people. While the rewards of their special status belonged to "the World to Come," the tasks that devolved upon them were relevant here and now. It was their duty to "sanctify the Name," or "to make His Name beloved in the world." As Jews they were priests, not hermits who withdrew into the wilderness in order to keep their soul "unspotted of this world," but secular priests, who labor in the market place. This motivation contrasted strangely with the fact that the Law usually confined all benevolent activities within the ethnic boundaries of the Jewish people. "From the stranger, you may take usury, but from your brother you may not" [this verse]. Nearly the entire civil law, outlining the principles of fair dealing, was limited in application to transactions among Jews. For this reason, Max Weber characterized Jewish ethics as being the primitive morals of a "closed society" (Binnenmoral). Even the recently deceased Leon Roth wondered whether the editors of the Talmud and other basic texts in the past five hundred years were conscious of any all-human obligations and values. Judaism, 1962. But, the strictly legal limitations of the law were counteracted by the belief that the Jewish people collectively were given the task of bringing all mankind to the service of the One God. Hence, their collective duty so to act as to bring glory to the Name.

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DEUT1289 Lend to non-Jews with interest. It is not fitting for us to bestow kindness except upon others like ourselves, who know Hashem and serve Him. When we refrain from doing kindness for other peoples, and we add charitably only towards our brethren, it shows that our concern and goodwill towards them stems from the fact that they keep Hashem’s Torah. If such is our intent when we refrain from acting charitably towards gentiles, such refraining brings us merit and reward, no less than when we act charitably towards our brethren.

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DEUT1290 See [[EXOD549]] Exodus 21:14 neighbor SPERO 126-30

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DEUT1291 See [[EXOD696]] Exodus 22:24 interest TAMARI 180-1

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DEUT1292 See [[EXOD699]] Exodus 22:24 interest TAMARI 181-2

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