is it permissible to purchase a gift card at a discount from its recipient or is the transaction prohibited as Avak Ribbis? Answer: This is permitted. A gift card has… Read more »
Category: Interest on loans
Applying Heter Iska to Old Loan
My father took a loan on his house to pay for an extension on mine six months ago. He has been paying the loan until now. Can I make a… Read more »
Paying Mortgage Loan with Interest
I bought a house a little while ago and could not get approved for a mortgage so my father-in-law took out the mortgage for me and I’m paying the bank… Read more »
Returning Extra Pills
My not-so-frum-yet relative borrowed some pills from a neighbor of mine. He then got his prescription filled and wants me to return the borrowed pills for him. (That was what… Read more »
Exchange Rate for Repayment
I borrowed a large sum of money from a relative. The money got sent to my account in Sterling and then transferred from Sterling to shekels. (They preferred it should… Read more »
Ribbis in Extra Payment for Late Salary
I did some work on a project for someone else. When the project was complete the employer was late in sending me my paycheck. After a few months he wired… Read more »
Loans from Banks with Jewish Shareholding
Can you please explain why we borrow from publicly held banks, despite that there are stockholders who are Jewish? Answer: There are a number of reasons why this is not… Read more »
Returning Different Brand of Cigarette as Ribbis
Hi, I was wondering, if someone gives me a carton of cigarettes on condition I give him back a carton, may I give him back a better brand,better quality cigartettes,… Read more »
Interest on Payments to State
I just got a form from Bituach Leumi asking me to pay over 4500 shekels for next year’s Bituach Leumi contributions. They offer the option of paying in one payment… Read more »
Fines for Late Payment
I work for a utility company and was told by my boss to add a late payment charge for chronic late paying customers every month. Please advise regarding the halacha… Read more »
Discount for Cash Payment
If the seller gives the option of paying in cash for a small discount as opposed to paying in card or check, is this considered Ribbis? Sources are appreciated. Answer:… Read more »
Lending out Car
Is there any issue with my giving my daughter my car after she marries this upcoming week and having her make the payments on my car loan. It will still… Read more »
Lending a non-Observant Jew with Interest
I have a friend who is no longer religious and he asked me for a loan am i able to lend with ribis if he is not keeping kosher or… Read more »
Depositing Check in Bank
I made a loan to someone and the terms where to pay $500/month. I asked the borrowers if he could do me a favor and deposit the check he made… Read more »
Late Fee Clause in Rental Contract
Am I allowed to add a late fee clause in a lease for a Jewish tenant? Is it ribis? Answer: It is permitted to add a late fee clause in… Read more »
Heter Iska Today
To what extent should one be makpid to draft a heter iska, and might you please cite examples when a heter iska may be nogaya bzman hazeh? Thank you. Answer:… Read more »
Borrowing from Company (Ribbis)
Dear Sir, If a Jew borrows from a publicly held corporation in which 20% of the shares are owned by a Jew who manages that publicly held company, is a… Read more »
Heter Iska for Mortgage Document
My son who learns in kollel is thinking of buying a property. Because he cannot borrow money with his income, I will borrow the money from my bank, using my… Read more »
Collecting Interest in Court
Hi, I am a lawyer and a Jewish client just asked me to enforce a contract – charging interest – against another Jew. Can I take on the case? Thanks… Read more »
Loan “On the House”
I am looking to refinance my house. Presently the easiest option would be to go with a Jewish lender who would flip the loan right away (he says within 2… Read more »
Prohibition of Usury for Jews
Is now available that law which God told us that every man give 10% of his income? Why in the old testament that lend a non-Jew a Jew could ask… Read more »
Bonus on Credit Card
I lent someone money on my credit card. My credit card pays 1.5% interest on money spent on the card. Is this cashback bonus ribbis? If so, should I give… Read more »
Heter Iska for Pension Fund
How does one verify that he is not taking ribis when enlisted in an Israeli pension plan? Answer: This is a good question, and it is important to verify that… Read more »
Interest on Late Child Allowance Payment
Is it permissible to collect interest on delayed child support payment? Answer: If the interest grows over time, it is not permitted to collect this (from a Jewish father) unless… Read more »
Participation in Lending Club
Shalom, Could you please address these questions 1. as of recently many investment places started to advertise the new “safe investment” so called tax lien certificate, when homeowner fails to… Read more »
Paying More for Sefer as Helping Out
Someone went to a machaber of a sefer to buy his sefer for 50 shekels. The person didn’t have money but the machaber let him take the sefer anyway and… Read more »
Interest-Free Loan for Employees
Reuven is getting hired . His compensation: x amount of dollars or shekel a week; 10 days vacation a year use of the company car for a week an interest-free… Read more »
Getting Money Back in Heter Iska
Hi, The Heter Isska you have in English online lets me think that the sum invested must be returned to the investor no matter what happens. Is that correct? You… Read more »
Inflated Late Pay Check
Interesting shailo in ribis A company owed someone his pay check for last month, came the time to pay and the company ran into some financial difficulties. The pay check… Read more »
Loan for Giving Charity to Lender
An ani went around collecting on Purim and came to a rich person who didn’t have any more money left to give. The Ani said “Here, I’ll lend you a… Read more »
Receiving Interest from Bank
I recently set up an account at bank Mizrahi Tafuhot. The account receives interest. Do you know if this is a problem, or if bank Mizrahi has set up a… Read more »
Loan on Condition of Keeping Shabbos
The Father (not frum) of a Baal Teshuva asked his son for a loan. The son agreed to give his Father the loan on condition that he starts to keep… Read more »
Paying in Advance for Lulav Set
May one pay for a lulav and esrog set a month in advance via credit card to get an early bird discount? Or would this be considered a problem? Someone… Read more »
Taking Maaser from Income
Should maaser be paid from the gross income or from the net income? Answer: Maaser must be taken from a person’s net income. The obligation of taking maaser applies to… Read more »
Who to Write for Heter Iska
A friend kindly arranged a private loan with interest that will allow me to buy a home. I understand that with the proper heter iska we can make this happen…. Read more »
Buying on Credit in Israel
Sholem I’m I allowed to buy something here in Israel with a israeli credit card in a couple payments if there is a ribis charge on it? Answer: The big… Read more »
Terms of Contract and Heiter Iska
If a loan is made with a secular loan contract and also a heter iskah, does the heter iskah override the terms of the secular contract? I.e., if the secular… Read more »
Heter Iska for Company
When writing a Heter Iska to issue a loan to an LLC – 1. Is it sufficient for 1 member to sign for the company? 2. Do you use plural… Read more »
Obligations of Heiter Iska
If a loan is made under a heter iskah, can the creditor withdraw the money at a time when this would deleterious for the business venture that it has been… Read more »
Saying “Thank You” for a Loan
When paying back a loan, is saying “thank you” ribbis? Answer: No, saying “thank you” is not considered ribbis. Sources: The Gemara and the Shulchan Aruch write that if a… Read more »
Details of Heiter Iska
I am using your english version heter iska contract with a non-religious jew and he is not comfortable with the line “All other profit-making assets of mine (ours) are to… Read more »
Paying Less for Payment Up Front
Reuven took Shimon to secular court without a heter from beis din. Reuven won a monetary claim to be paid out over time. Reuven now offers Shimon a discount to… Read more »
Loan on Condition of Success in Studies
Can one loan money to a student for his college education on condition that the student maintains, for instance, a B average? (If the grade is not maintained, the benefactor… Read more »
Ribbis of Paying Back Past Loan
Someone borrowed money from a friend in the amount of $1000. Much time went by and he never paid it back. The one who lent the money you could say… Read more »
Extending Time for Loan as Ribbis
Someone took a loan from a gemach for a large amount of money and made up to pay back $500 a month. They now need to take another loan and… Read more »
Heiter Iska in Partnership
I am going g-d willing into a partnership. It is on line business to sell vitamins. I would manage the business and my partner would give me his credit card… Read more »
Interest by Means of Partnership
Kavod HaRav, I have a question regarding potential ribit that I observed: Can a jewish owned business provide a Cash Advance to another jewish owned business, if the advance constitutes… Read more »
Brokering a Deal that Involves Ribis
Hello, may a real estate agent broker a deal between two non religious Jews in which owner financing (which I am assuming is ribbis) will be used? The agent is… Read more »
Changing Foreign Currency Checks
I asked the following question from you and received an answer. At the end of your answer you noted: “that this answer does not relate to the possible ribbis issues… Read more »
Interest in Promissory Note
If a Jew lends money to another Jew for interest using a Heter Iska form, is it also permitted to have the borrower sign a promissory note guaranteeing the repayment… Read more »