The Wheel That Turns Between the Rich Man and the Poor

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 350:4

"The poor man with you" — the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Know that I am the One who made him poor and you rich, and I am able to turn you back and make you poor. Rav Nachman said: What is written? "You shall surely give to him," and it does not say here "because for the sake of," but rather "because on account of this thing" (Deuteronomy 15:10). It is a wheel: I made you rich and him poor; do not cause Me to turn the wheel back and make you poor. See what is written: "You shall not harden your heart from your brother, the needy one" — it does not say here "from the poor man" but "from your brother," for the two of you are equal.

Themes