Halakhah к Бава меци'а́ 5:13

Although Rav Shternbuch does not cite any precedent for his view, perhaps we can garner support for his approach from a suggestion made by Rav Akiva Eiger (Y.D. 181:6).³A similar suggestion is made the Tiferet Shmuel (Bava Metzia 5:3). Some background information is needed to understand this suggestion. First, we must note that a man is forbidden to shave his face with a razor (makif) and is forbidden to be shaved by a razor (nikaf; see Makkot 20b). A woman is not included in this prohibition (Kiddushin 1:7), but violates lifnei iveir if she shaves a man’s face with a razor (Shulchan Aruch ad. loc.).

He prohibited that the lender seek out the borrower, when he knows that he is not able to pay. And that is His saying, "do not be to him as a creditor" (Exodus 22:24). And in the Gemara, Metzia (Bava Metzia 75b): "From where [do we know] about one who is owed one hundred dinars by his fellow and knows that [the latter] does not have [the funds] - that it is forbidden for him to pass in front of him? As it is stated, 'Do not be to him as a creditor' (Exodus 22:24)." And in the Mekhilta (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 22:24:4): "'Do not be to him as a creditor' - do not appear to him at all times." And know that this prohibition also includes one who seeks out a debt of interest. And so did they say (Mishnah Bava Metzia 5:11) - that one who lends with interest transgresses, "do not be to him as a creditor," as I will explain in what follows this. (See Parashat Mishpatim; Mishneh Torah, Creditor and Debtor 4.)