Question:
A for-profit “chevra kadisha” operates and charges $170 per 8 hours of shmira. The business owner collects $50 per shift for himself. (The “going rate” in our market is $110-$120 per shift). Would it be hasagat gevul for an alternative chevra kadisha that functions as a nonprofit to replace the for-profit? The nonprofit chevra kadisha is staffed by rabbonim and bnei yeshiva, whereas the for profit is staffed by people who are questionably shomer shabbos, one of whom has a live-in girlfriend, another with a questionable conversion. The nonprofit chevra kadisha pays the shomer the full amount of what is collected; the director does not collect any cut. The nonprofit also has stricter standards, is governed by a vaad halacha, and requires the shomer to say tehillim for 30 minutes of the hour, whereas the for profit chevra has no such requirement.
Answer:
If you are not going to put him out of business or severely cut his profits that he won’t be able to maintain his standard of living there never is a problem. If you do maybe we can talk. Please send your number and I’ll bli neder call
Yosef
