To not steel his heart against the poor: Not to withhold kindness and charity from our brother Israelites — and all the more so, from our relatives — in our knowing the weakness of their situation and that we have the ability to assist them. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 15:7), “you shall not steel your heart, and you shall not close your hand from your brother, the destitute one” — meaning to say, do not have the traits of stinginess and villainy rule over you, but rather prepare your heart in every way towards the trait of generosity and pity. And do not think that there will be a lack in your money because of the thing; “as because of [this] thing, God will bless you” (Deuteronomy 15:10). And His blessing for one small instant is better for you than several storehouses of gold and silver.
שֶׁלֹּא יְאַמֵּץ אֶת לְבָבוֹ עַל הֶעָנִי – שֶׁלֹּא נִמְנַע הַחֶסֶד וְהַצְּדָקָה מֵאַחֵינוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן מִן הַקְּרוֹבִים, בְּדַעְתֵּנוּ חֻלְשַׁת עִנְיָנָם וְיֵשׁ בָּנוּ יְכֹלֶת לְסַעֲדָם, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (דברים טו ז) לֹא תְאַמֵּץ אֶת לְבָבְךָ וְלֹא תִקְפֹּץ אֶת יָדְךָ מֵאָחִיךָ הָאֶבְיוֹן, כְּלוֹמַר, אַל תַּשְׁלִיט עָלֶיךָ מִדַּת הַכִּילוּת וְהַנְּבָלָה, אֲבָל הָכֵן לְבָבְךָ עַל כָּל פָּנִים בְּמִדַּת הַנְּדִיבוּת וְהַחֶמְלָה, וְאַל תַּחְשֹׁב שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לְךָ בַּדָּבָר חֶסְרוֹן מָמוֹנְךָ, כִּי בִּגְלַל הַדָּבָר הַהוּא יְבָרֶכְךָ הַשֵּׁם וְיָפֶה לְךָ בִּרְכָתוֹ רֶגַע קָטָן מִכַּמָּה אוֹצָרוֹת שֶׁל זָהָב וָכֶסֶף.
To not steel his heart against the poor: Not to withhold kindness and charity from our brother Israelites — and all the more so, from our relatives — in our knowing the weakness of their situation and that we have the ability to assist them. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 15:7), “you shall not steel your heart, and you shall not close your hand from your brother, the destitute one” — meaning to say, do not have the traits of stinginess and villainy rule over you, but rather prepare your heart in every way towards the trait of generosity and pity. And do not think that there will be a lack in your money because of the thing; “as because of [this] thing, God will bless you” (Deuteronomy 15:10). And His blessing for one small instant is better for you than several storehouses of gold and silver.
מִשָּׁרְשֵׁי מִצְוַת הַצְּדָקָה כָּתַבְתִּי בְּפָרָשַׁת מִשְׁפָּטִים וּקְצָת דִּינֶיהָ וְעִנְיָנָהּ כְּמִנְהָגִי.
I have written in Parashat Mishpatim from its roots and some of its laws and content, as per my custom.