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Loans to the Poor - part one (Mitzvot 66-68)
The laws of tzedakah do not appear as a mitzvah in the Torah but are derived from either the mitzvah to lend to the poor or maaser ani. Tzedakah was built into the agricultural mitzvot (Peah, Maaser, etc.). Only after the shift from an agricultural-based society do we see codification of the laws of charity.
What does the word tzedakah mean? Why is it always coupled with mishpat?
When deciding a "threshold" for charity, do we simply care about ensuring basic needs or do we base it on everyone else? (Relative vs. absolute poverty)
Delivered at the OU Israel Center, February 27th, 2019 (22 Adar I 5779)