We’ve just finished the yom tov of Chanuka, when we celebrate our salvation from the clutches and influence of the Greeks. As we say in Al Hanissim, the essence of these days is praise and gratitude to Hashem – “and they established Chanuka to thank and to praise Your great name.” Jews are called Yehudim, people who thank Hashem for the ongoing kindnesses that He constantly bestows on them. And this trait of hakaras hatov is directed not only to the Almighty; it also extends to every person who helps us. 

All this brings us to an important question regarding ribbis. We know that a borrower may not repay more than he borrowed. Neither may he do other favors for his lender that he would not otherwise have done. 

In fact, he may not even profusely thank the lender. All that is permitted is the general thank-you that the borrower would have offered even had the lender not been able to offer a loan. (Meaning, if the lender had refused to lend the money and the borrower said, “Thanks anyway,” or something similar, then we infer that the thank-you is unrelated to the loan he receives; rather, it’s his manner of speaking to thank everyone he comes into contact with and is therefore permitted.) 

All this leads to the question, What about the obligation of hakaras hatov? One answer is that although it’s incumbent on the recipient to be grateful, it’s equally incumbent on the lender to lend without remuneration (which includes even verbal praise and thanks). There is basically a clash of values: the borrower wants to thank and reward the lender, but the lender is commanded to lend for free and to help his brother without receiving more in return. Therefore, despite the deep appreciation the borrower should feel within, he must not in any way benefit the lender, which would be a violation of the lender’s obligation.

The mitzvah of lending to another Jew is unique in that it must be performed totally for the benefit of the one who needs the loan (without any remuneration). And this mitzvah isn’t limited to big-time sums. Every time we lend someone a couple of shekels, or even an egg, we are privileged to help another Jew and to fulfill the mitzvah min haTorah of giving a free loan.