Sifrei (Devarim 118) "for a poor man will not cease from the midst of the land": And elsewhere it is written "But, there shall not be in you a poor man." How are these two verses to be reconciled? When you do the will of the L-rd, the poor will be in the gentiles; but when you do not do the will of the L-rd, the poor will be in you. "Therefore, I command you, saying": I give you goodly counsel, for your benefit: "Open shall you open your hand...give shall you give." "to your brother, your poor one, and your pauper in your land…
It's a simple economic principle - poverty is relative so the poor will always be with us.
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