The Poor Man's Only Cloak and the Cry God Hears

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 22:26

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"His covering" (Exodus 22:26) is his shirt. "His garment" is his cloak. "His skin" is his hide-covering. "In what shall he sleep?" comes to include the pillow, the cushion, and the sheet. I know only these; from where do I learn to include the other vessels? Scripture says "his covering, his garment, his skin, in what shall he sleep," [extending the law]. One might think this applies even if he had two such items and did not need one of them. Scripture says "it is his covering, it is his garment, it is his skin, in what shall he sleep" [only what he truly needs]. Ben Azzai says: "his skin" means that with which his skin has contact, excluding what is folded and stored away in a chest. "And it shall be" (Exodus 22:26). "And it shall be" means immediately. "When he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious" (Exodus 22:26). Even though I exact payment from you for this, I am the One who gives reward through this. Rabbi Shimon used to say: Lovers of money love one another, robbers love one another, the violent love one another, and usurers love one another. Whom is it fitting to exact payment from all these? I am the One who has none of all these traits.

Themes

CharityDivine JusticeLaw

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