Much antisemitism is rooted in the cliched depiction of the Jew as usurer. Shylock being the most famous example in literature. But Jews are forbidden to loan money with interest to other Jews when necessities are involved. Business loans are a different matter - Orthodox Jews have created a transaction called the heter iska (“permission to do business”) under which the loaner given a ‘fair’ percentage of the profits of the business, even if the business doesn’t make a profit.
But a loan to an Israelite, a Jew, a member of the tribe, for something essential - food, clothing, housing - for that kind of loan, charging interest isn’t permitted. In fact, according to Telushkin, this kind of loan is considered to be the highest form of gemilut hesed, an act of kindness.
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