Exemption from Hosting Poor Travelers as Payment for Communal Loan Interest

Description

The Rosh HaKahal borrowed money from a non-Jew at interest for communal purposes and the community exempted him from his hosting obligations in return; a communal leader raised concerns this constituted ribbis ketzutzah. The Chasam Sofer rules the arrangement is fully permitted, citing multiple grounds: the Re'anach's principle that interest on communal construction loans is a reimbursable expense, the uncertainty of benefit from guest arrivals, the mitzvah purpose of the loan, and the classification of the arrangement as mavriach ari at most, which is less severe than avak ribbis.