Gittin 37 - For the benefit of both rich and poor

The term "prosbul" is related to the Greek prosbuleibutei (a council to protect people from harm) and means "benefit or rich and poor." Rich - because they do not transgress - do not refrain from helping with a loan. Poor, because it helps them obtain a loan.

Prosbul works by assigning the loan to court for collection. It is then "as if collected," and such a loan is not canceled by the 7th year.

Only unsecured loans are canceled and thus require prosbul. Even if a debt is canceled by the 7th year, it is meritorious to return the money as a gift.

Art: The Thankful Poor by Henry Ossawa Tanner