"Al tikach may'ito neshech ve'tarbis, ve'yaraysa mayelokecha, ve'chai achicha imach. Es kasp'cha lo sitayn lo be'neshech, u'bemarbis lo sitayn achlecha." Leviticus 25:36, 37 " Do not take interest from your fellow; fear Hashem and let your brother live with you. Do not lend money at interest, and do not give for food for increase."
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The Gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger lived in a city which had a very wealthy
man who had become exceptionally rich through his usurious dealings. After he
died, the community burial society refused to bury him until his sons would
pay 2000 silver pieces to the community chest; this was 100 times the going
rate. His sons became enraged at the demand made by the burial society and
they brought this matter to the attention of the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger.
Rabbi Eiger answered that if one deals in usury the Talmud teaches that he
will not be resurrected at the time of techias hamaysim. Since this wealthy
man involved himself in usury, he would therefore remain in the ground
indefinitely and not get up with the rest of Israel. However, when other Jews
acquire burial ground, they lease the plot temporarily because once mashiach
comes and techias hamaysim begins, they no longer require the plot. Since
techias hamaysim may be just around the corner, one should never be charged an
excessive amount for the plot they use. However, when a usurer obtains his
plot, it is not a rental, but a lifetime acquistion. A high price is not
exorbitant in his case but is actually a fair market valuation for his eternal
use of the plot. Rabbi Akiva Eiger told the sons of this usurer that if they
object to the price requested by the burial society they should find their own
plot and bury their father by themselves. While on their face these verses seem repetitive, they are instructive. There are several reasons why one Jew should not lend money to another Jew with interest. The first, "ve'yaraysa mayelokecha" is because it is one of Hashem's commanndments and we are commanded to fear Hashem. The second "ve'chay achicha imach" is to ensure that you will live or rise up together with your fellow Jew at techias hamaysim and not be left remaining in the grave. Additionally, the end of the second verse "u'bmarbis lo sitayn achlecha" reminds us that the grave consumes (eats) a person who remains in it indefinitely. One should not be a usurer so he may merit techias hamaysim and not remain consumed in his grave.
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