Exodus 22:24 "You shall not be to him as a creditor"

Solly's class went on an outing.

They hiked through the woods and then arrived at a nearby lake where they were to go boating.

While the teacher was organizing the groups for rowing, all the boys went to the canteen to buy drinks.

Solly noticed that Itzi was standing alone and staring ahead with an uncomfortable look in his eyes.

Slowly, Itzi approached Solly, and hesitantly asked in a hushed voice:

"Would you please lend me thirty-five cents?"

Solly remembered that on many of the class trips, Itzi never seemed to bring spending money. "Maybe his parents just can't afford to give him extra money," Solly thought to himself. "But that means that he probably won't pay me back!"

Nevertheless, Solly reached into his wallet and lent Itzi the money, without saying a word.

In fact, Solly didn't say a word about the loan afterwards either! He decided not to remind Itzi about the loan, hoping that he would return the money as soon as he could.

Solly was keeping the Mitzvah of not demanding a loan back from someone who has trouble returning it. The Torah cautions us to be patient and not to harass the borrower.

In the end Solly's patience paid off. A few weeks later, Itzi returned the thirty-five cents and apologized for the delay.

Solly invited him to his home and the two soon became good friends.