Reply To: Short & Sweet

Behar: Embracing Uncertainty

The Kli Yakar has a fascinating explanation for the prohibition against Ribis, against charging another Jew interest for a loan.

The Kli Yakar writes that charging interest will take away a person’s bitachon. Every other business venture has some element of risk in it. Since a person does not know how much he will gain or lose in his business, this uncertainty will drive him to daven to Hashem. But someone who charges interest will think of themselves as having a steady, secure, and predictable income. This person will find it much harder to feel Hashem’s presence.

We all crave certainty and stability. But that sense of security can be stupefying, robbing us of one of the primary ways in which we connect to Hashem.

When a crack in the veneer of stability comes, as it always does, we should not waste it. We ought to use every crisis as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Hashem, to turn to Him for help.
כי הוא קלי, וחי גאלי, וצור חבלי בעת צרה

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