Question: I operate an online store located in Israel, with most sales to the US. We ship via Israel Post, which is then handled in the US by USPS. Approximately… Read more »
Category: Monetary Law and Charity
halacha will within the State of Israel
Question: I have been told that a person that does not prepare a will, his family could face a lot of difficulties vis a vis the Israeli court system. Is… Read more »
Massar sefer torah
Question: 1) I recently purchased some nevium on klaf for my shul to use for the Hoftorah. Although the shul is using it they belong to me ( I didn’t… Read more »
Returning lost pen
Question: I found about a 4 dollar pen half used in a public place,looks like it was there for a while before i found it. After i picked it up… Read more »
paying workers
Question: One who has many begadim that need to be checked for shaatnez, should he have the shaatnez checker check each one separately, pay him, and then proceed to the… Read more »
Fee on Reimbursable Expenses
Question: We’re a service company, and we have reimbursable expenses on projects that we have to bill the client for. Most companies charge a fee for it, i.e. 5% (no… Read more »
Halachik Will – clause to insert into “standard” wills
Question: I was referred to Rabbi Flegg by a friend who said that Rabbi Flegg had provided a clause to insert to a “standard” will to make it halachikally valid…. Read more »
Backing Out of a Signed Contract
Question: I entered into a signed contract with a divorcee to purchase her home in Israel. The home is still listed in hers and her ex-husband’s name and she needs… Read more »
Maaser from canceled torah study subscripton.
Question: I subscribed to receive a weekly torah study booklet (Chayenu) but was forced to cancel the subscription a few weeks in due to certain circumstances. Can the money i… Read more »
Can one make a charity donation with a credit card and ask for change. Is this ribbis?
Question: Can one make a charity donation with a credit card and ask for change [bec he wants cash now] or is this ribbis [getting cash now paying more later]?… Read more »
payment for the loss of a borrowed object
Question: Shalom, I am asking on behalf of my granddaugter: “I lent a pair of shoes to my friend…and she lost them. Should she pay me the full amount of… Read more »
Forgiveness for damage
Question: Hi. I recently swiped someone’s car and caused some minor damage to the bodywork. I left a note with my contact details and they contacted me and said that… Read more »
Maaser Kesafim for a needy Kallahy Kallah
Question: Dear Rabbi I know of a situation where an orphan is about to become a Kallah. The orphanage as her family are paying for all her wedding expenses. Her… Read more »
Is there a misha para for withdrawing from the sale of a house?
Question: Dear Rabbonim, I agreed to sell a house at a certain price by negotiation mostly on WhatsApp. The buyer who is also Jewish told me that he wanted to… Read more »
Is it stealing to go to your cousins party and bring food home.
Question: Is it stealing to go to your cousins party and bring food home. The family doesn’t mind if others take it and people take home food. I don’t know… Read more »
Returning stolen item I took as a child
Question: When I was very young (before my bar mitzvah) I stole a piece of candy at disney world. I want to pay them back now but they are a… Read more »
Loan to be repaid from inheritance
Question: Hi, If a loan was written up between two siblings while their parents were alive with interest stipulated in the loan (they were unaware that it was Assur), with… Read more »
Buying vs. paying back (Ribis)
Question: I asked my sister to buy me some shoes from a store. Because she only has a credit card (and no debit card) I didn’t want her to pay… Read more »
Ribbis with Credit cards
Question: Weird situation, but basically there’s a guy that occasionally borrows money from credit cards. I find people to give their cards to be swiped. He also gives 2 percent… Read more »
Extra expenses incurred by Rebbe
Question: I arranged with someone to teach my class on Friday morning in my absence, and we agreed on an hourly pay. When it came to Friday, he totally forgot… Read more »
Masser from money that was collected
Question: I am collecting money for my daughters Chasana Do I give maaser money on money I am collecting that was designated for tzedokah by others. Also can I use… Read more »
Downloading music
Question: Shalom aleichem. There are many old music tapes that I still have, but unfortunately cannot use because my car does not have a tape player. If I have the… Read more »
Listening to a WhatsApp message
Question: Is it a problem under Cherem D’Rabeinu Gershom to listen to a WhatsApp message intended for someone else? What if the person it was sent to is listening to… Read more »
looking at seforim for free
Question: What is the Rav’s opinion regarding one who brings seforim to sell to a yeshiva, and the bachurim look at the seforim, which they may or may not have… Read more »
I want to seize property in lieu of money owed to me.
Question: I manage a restaurant that owes me an amount of money. They clearly owe it to me by all accounts, everyone agrees, but they have asked me to wait… Read more »
Changing where to give Maaser to
Question: We were planning on giving a large amount of maaser to our shul, and tried to do it but could not succesfully do it on the shul website. After… Read more »
Shtar for gmach
Question: Can you give me a nussach for a shtar for a money lending gmach with an areiv Kablan? Thank you Answer: Here is a cpoy of a shtar with… Read more »
Donating to a Rabbi’s organisation
Question: Is one permitted to donate money to a Rabbi’s organisation if this Rabbi is known to publicly denigrate talmidei chachamim (who disagree with him) on a regular basis? Thank… Read more »
Quiet time at work
Question: If it is quiet at work. I work on a Support Help Desk and sometimes there is very little to do. What should I do? Do I need to… Read more »
Is it a copyright or geneiva
Question: I want to make a diary to sell in my shop ! I want to take the times of shabbos for the next year from a other diary that… Read more »
Designated money for rabbi
Question: Hi, two years ago I meant to give money to my rabbi and even set it aside, awhile after we lost touch I thing I didn’t end up giving… Read more »
cheating
Question: A college student was having a hard time with his math class, so he paid his brother to do the homework assignments for him. The student’s major is law,… Read more »
Ribbis on a phone bill
Question: I live in Israel. I was late paying a phone bill and now they want me to pay an interest fee charge. Is there a problem with ribbis? Answer:… Read more »
Dina d’bar metzrah
Question: I own house in a Montreal country place ,have the first house and second 3rd house belongs to 3rd party 4th house owned by 2 other people house in… Read more »
Friend purchased on my behalf the wrong wine but i’m happy to keep it
Question: A gutten On Erev Pesach I asked a friend to buy for me a bottle of semi-dry non-mevushal wine which I would use for Arba Kosos. He later dropped… Read more »
Business/Partnership Money stolen
Question: Hi Rabbi, I have a business in partnership with someone who is also my best friend. I have taken a lot of cash when available without her knowing when… Read more »
Heter Iska for a Shul
Question: Shalom u-verakhah! If a shul borrows money with interest (as required by the IRS) from specific congregants, does the Shul need to write a heter iska? Also, why do… Read more »
Forgiving money owed to me
Question: If i know that people owe me money am i able to accept that I don’t care that they owe me assuming that they forgot. Instead of conforting them…. Read more »
Using hotel facilities without permission
Question: A while back me and some friends used an hotel in Israel’s pool facilities( including towels), I was told to contact them and ask mechilla, when I researched them… Read more »
Maaser from child support
Question: Do I have to give maaser from money that was given to me but for a specific purpose? For example, If one is divorced, and the ex does not… Read more »
Time limitations on a co-signed check
Question: How long is the statute of limitations on a co-signed check that the signer didn’t pay and he closed the account for a check of 2,000 shekels 30 years… Read more »
Returning money put into my bank account
Question: Shalom alechem. A jew deposited more money in my account that he was supposed. I noticed him through via w app. He saw the message but did not claim… Read more »
copying for non-commercial use
Question: I was on a photo-sharing website called smugmug and saw a nice picture and i wanted to save it for personal use. (the photographer was a yid) and the… Read more »
withholding rental checks
Question: I leased an apartment I own in Kiryat Malachi to tenants who are withholding rental checks. I want to bring them to Din Torah. Can the hearing take place… Read more »
Payment for elevator
Question: Shalom Alechem I bought an apartment in Brazil. And the building has shabos elevator that was paid by some of the residents of the building. I am moving in… Read more »
Filling up the tank of a borrowed car
Question: My mother in law lent me her car for the month I just filled up the entire tank before returning it. Is that somewhat assur because of ribbis? Thank… Read more »
Kiddush Sponsorship Payment
Question: Someone gave money to sponsor kiddush in honor of a family member’s political accomplishment. The shul did not include this in the weekly announcements that acknowledge those who sponsor… Read more »
business question
Question: HI i import cosmetic products made in Israel to USA. specifically, a factory near Jerusalem area and i work here in los angeles. i have a financial dispute with… Read more »
nusach for an employment contract for disputes
Question: Shalom, I live in EY in Sanhedria Murchevet and daven by Rav Yitzchok Berkovits and am his talmid. We are hiring someone for our company and he told me… Read more »
Hashavas aveida
Question: The mehadrin bus company advertised that they were bringing all the lost and found stuff to a place where everyone could pick it up. After a certain time everything… Read more »