Q. Reese asked:
The Gemara lists poverty and large debt as two items on the list of items that save a person from Gehenom (according to Rashi's reading).
What is the difference between owing large amounts of money and poverty? Doesn't one include the other?
Q. Reese, Atlanta, Georgia
The Kollel replies:
If you have credit cards (or you owe money in payments) but you have a cash flow, you can maintain a decent (or unfortunately, sometimes lavish) lifestyle, but you still owe a lot of money. It is still a Kaparah, as one still has to constantly shuffle money appropriately to make sure he doesn't become poor, which is definitely a pain.
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose