Question: At the time I was hired, my employer agreed to give me a set percentage raise each year. the first 3 years he gave it to me. After that… Read more »
Category: Monetary Law and Charity
Found money in yeshiva
Question: I found money in a yeshiva. It was a single bill, which I understand does not have a siman. Is it “better” to announce it? I am discussing a… Read more »
Making an audio from a recently published book to send out
Question: I have a group of friends and we want to learn through a page or 2 of the same sefer every day. I want to know if I can… Read more »
The selling agent charged more than the suggested price
Question: Reuven asked Shimon to sell esrogim for him. Reuven said “sell them for 150 shekel and you will get 50% of the profit.” Shimon decided to sell the esrogim… Read more »
found money in shul
Question: Found money in shul without a simin can I keep it or does the shul keep it מדין חצר קונה Answer: It is only considered a חצר if it… Read more »
Giving money for a bikur cholim from maaser
Question: Dear Rabbi Gut Mo’ed. Thank you so much for the great Mitzvah of Dinonline Ask The Rabbi, and your kindness and help to all of us and for answering… Read more »
Maaser/Tzedakah
Question: I just recently graduated from college, finally coming off my parents payroll as they like to say. I spent this summer working at an internship and driving for Uber/Lyft,… Read more »
Damaged a goy’s car
Question: 1) If someone damaged a goy’s (gentile) car, must he pay? 2) In this case, the goy was Ethiopian and did not understand English. I am not sure if… Read more »
Maaser for a loan that was forgiven
Question: I took out a loan from a bank for a considerable amount of money, which was later negotiated down to about 10%, with the rest forgiven. The loan was… Read more »
Ribbis when someone lays out money
Question: 1) Sixteen boys rented a tender. The price was 150 shekel. They didn’t each have exact change to split the bill, so they decided that one boy would pay… Read more »
Loan between companies.
Question: The Israeli law mandates ribit (at least ~ 2%) for every loan between companies. Do we need Heter Iska between companies? Toda raba Answer: There should be a heter… Read more »
I got a scratch on my parents car. Do I have to tell it to them if it’s not noticeable
Question: Let’s say I got a scratch on my parent’s car. Do I have to tell it to them if it’s not noticeable or it falls under the category of… Read more »
Accidently broke wine opener
Question: I was a guest at someone’s house for Shabbat. I was playing with the wine opener while it was on the table, opened it fully and then it broke… Read more »
Are Bank Fees allowed to be deducted from a salary that was paid late?
Question: I work for a yeshiva that issues payroll checks on a very untimely basis. Although I knew that paychecks may not be issued on the exact date, the yeshiva… Read more »
Ma’aser on Future Income
Question: Is one allowed to give tzedaka for ma’aser on the condition that it apply to future earnings? For example, if someone gets a paycheck on the 30th of the… Read more »
Maaser versus Repaying Student Loan
Question: My wife and I have been scrupulous in paying 10% to maaser for some time, however, this maaser has been at the expense of repaying debt for a student… Read more »
Maaser on a mortgage
Question: Hi, I recently refinanced my mortgage and pulled out some money in the process. Do I have to pay Maaser on that money, or not since it is technically… Read more »
Sales of sefarim left behind in a yeshiva
Question: Someone was at a sale that a yeshiva made for sefarim left around yeshiva which were unclaimed. The yeshiva could not attempt to return the sefarim even with names… Read more »
Sefarim left behind in yeshiva become hefker
Question: Can a yeshiva decide that any old sefarim which were left around its premises become hefker even if they did not put up a sign? They will put up… Read more »
Cheating on a test
Question: Is it geneivas daas to cheat on any test? Do any of the following reasons apply: a) if it is no way at all related to the topic I… Read more »
Maaser to ones husband
Question: My husband doesn’t support me financially. This arrangement began right at the start of our marriage. He recently asked me to pay for some of his medical bills. Since… Read more »
Pay myself with maaser for doing work for a Mossad
Question: I am an accountant, and from time to time a certain Jewish org that does charitable work asks me to do some work for them. I feel like I… Read more »
Deducting from Maaser money owed by Yeshiva.
Question: I taught at a Yeshiva for several years and being that the Yeshiva was in bad financial state I am still owed quite a bit of money that was… Read more »
Addressing a Beis Din
Question: What is the proper way to address a Beis Din in a letter? Answer: In writing it is L’lavod Beit Hadin, and in person it would be Kavod Harabonom.
Damage caused to a product sticking out of shelf in store
Question: If one walks by an object in a store in a non-careless way, but since the object was sticking out off the shelf, he knocked it over and damage… Read more »
Lost Object – who is responsible for replacing it
Question: Yakira’s perspective (lender): Shevy asked around to see if anyone had a Raven’s jersey that she could borrow for Purim. I said that I did and she borrowed the… Read more »
Taking advantage of a mistake
Question: If someone is selling a product at a ridiculously cheap price, in a case where it is obvious that a mistake was made in labeling the price, can the… Read more »
Maaser for hurricane victims
Question: Dear Rabbi There are shuls in Houston Texas that I can support for help because of the flood–I can also send items of food, sundries etc. that they need…. Read more »
Sofer can’t complete Torah
Question: Dealer A ordered a sefer Torah to be written from dealer B. Dealer B hires the chosen sofer. Due to an unexpected health issue (אנוס), for the foreseeable future,… Read more »
Is nepotism allowed or ethical?
Question: Many shuls,yeshivahs, charitable organizations hire son-in-laws, children for Rabbinical and spiritual roles. Although these candidates might be able to “do the job” it might be very likely other (non-related)… Read more »
Rental apartment – excessive noise – reduction of rent?
Question: We rented our studio to a tourist for about three weeks. After a few days our next door nneighbor started interior building works and made lots of noise during… Read more »
My business partner stole the money. Should he return double amount?
Question: My business partner stole the money marking transfers to himself, as a merchandise. He made it trough and year, in multiple transactions. I found it after a lot of… Read more »
Damage caused by a socher
Question: My friend left the country for several months and offered his car for rent to me while he was gone. He said several times that he would add me… Read more »
W2/1099 status and halacha, reinstating salary
Question: OK, this is the 3rd in this series of questions. As this situation is rather complex I’ve broken it up into 3 parts… An employee (per diem) was overpaid… Read more »
Compensation for doing the work of others in organization
Question: Shalom, What would be the halacha in this case? Over the course of 10 years, an employee occasionally did the work that others should have done, since he was… Read more »
Borrowing dollars and paying back sterling.
Question: If a person borrows money in dollars and gives it back in sterling some months later, is he obligated to follow a particular exchange rate – at the time… Read more »
Must I Report Rental Car Damage
Question: I rented a car, from a Jewish company in Israel, and I scratched it. Am I required to halacha to tell them that I damaged it? I ask because… Read more »
A leak in the apt upstairs
Question: There is a leak on my ceiling. a painter came down and after many months he said that it is still wet and not drying. he brought down a… Read more »
Sharing with neighbors
Question: I am connected to a well that sends water to 4 homes sprinkler systems. Each of us contributed to the installation of the well many years ago and have… Read more »
Is gambling permitted?
Question: What is the Halacha for gambling? Does it differ for Ashkenazim and Sephardim? Or on a Kosher cruise? Answer: Gambling is not permitted, and the reason for it is… Read more »
Rent control
Question: Is the landlord allowed to raise his rent after the 3 year agreement to a double in price? In halacha is there any form of rent control? Sources please… Read more »
A house to split between two children, should all the children split the furniture?
Question: My mother is reaching 80´s she unfortunatelly is not bat daat anymore. Years ago, when she was 100% of her mental health she put her apartment in my name… Read more »
Calculating income for maaser
Question: Do I give 10% of income to tzedaka? Is it after Taxes, what about living expenses, baby expenses, etc? What about small side earning (nothing illegal of course) or… Read more »
Follow Up..Checks Found
Question: In this question: http://dinonline.org/2017/07/09/checks-found/ The actual question was around checks found that the org. would have owed others (not charitable). I don’t know if these were paid with other… Read more »
Cleaners ripped my suit
Question: I gave my suit to the cleaners to clean. They by mistake tore the pants and sewed it back up. It was a non-Jewish cleaners. Do they have to… Read more »
Damage to a borrowed van from tree sap
Question: I borrowed someone’s van to move my things to a new apartment. While doing so, I parked underneath a tree. It started to rain hard while I was inside… Read more »
Is it theft to use/move around an item that is chained to the building itself?
Question: If one were to use a gym where their was a posted sign saying something akin to “bandages, or gloves must be used while using punching bags”, would it… Read more »
Does unauthorized use over multiple instances require multiple compensations?
Question: If you use an item without the owner’s permission, and then return it, does this count as theft if they never find out? If so, does the rule of… Read more »
Mayser when in debt
Question: Hi, If one is in debt owing money to various government agencies as well as the school his children go to (tuition), is he obligated to take mayser from… Read more »
Checks Found
Question: I run an outreach organization. There were others running the organization before we came to town who have since moved on. Going through many old files, we found checks… Read more »