For the last 2 years, there has been a course for men at a religious girls’ college. You sign up and pay for the 10 week course, and they issue you a student card. With that you go to Egged, change the Rav Kav profile to “Student” and then you can buy a year’s bus/train pass for half price. Also, all intercity travel is half off.
The sign up for the course is in September. The course costs 500 NIS. That means you end up saving on the bus pass around 850 NIS.
Is the below fraud? What if one never attends classes? Or attends one class, but signs up only with the intention to receive the student card?
Is it geneivas daas?
Does it create a chillul Hashem, especially if it’s posted on a neighborhood list?
Thank you.
Answer:
The discount for bus passes are meant for students. Somebody who is not a student, and has no intention of becoming one, should not be making use of the discount by means of obtaining a half-fictional student card.
It is therefore wrong to do this, and the element of chillul Hashem should the media begin reporting it is another reason why this practice should be avoided.
Best wishes.
