My students sometimes ask why we are not allowed to lend money to a Jew with interest. They appreciate the idea that doing so creates a more humane society but if that’s the case they want to know then why are we allowed to lend to a non-Jew with interest? Isn’t that racist?
Money is a fascinating phenomenon. In and of itself it has absolutely no value. One can’t eat it wear it or heat one’s house with it. After World War II people who had stashed hordes of paper money in their cellars and attics discovered that all that paper was worth less than an onion peel. The only value money has is in its use as a tool to acquire something of value.
And yet the halachah asks us to treat money differently than any of our other belongings. Everything else we own we are allowed to rent out for profit. If I own a fleet of cars I am perfectly entitled to charge money for their use for a few hours or days. I can also charge for my time and expertise. The one and only thing I can’t lend out for profit is money. If I lend you money despite the fact that as everyone knows money always has the possibility of begetting more money I cannot take interest.
If the reason that the Torah forbids lending with interest is to encourage a more humane society why not forbid the renting out of any of my belongings? Theoretically I should just lend out my car for free allow people to stay at my guest house for free give legal and medical services for free and on and on. Why is it that the only thing I can’t “rent out” is my money?
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