Question: My husband has been struggling financially for many years since the collapse of his business. I started working and began paying many of the bills my husband used to… Read more »
Category: Monetary Law and Charity
How much do I have to pay for hezeka
Question: Hi if I purposely broke somebody’s AirPods charging case how much do I have to pay him? Enough for a brand new case or enough for a used one… Read more »
Beis Din claim under spam law
Question: This is probably only a theoretical question but at times it comes close to seeming relevant. I’m curious whether a Beis Din would entertain a claim for payment based… Read more »
repayment credit card loan
Question: hi I understand if one borrows a credit card from a fellow it is consider a double loan. I’m assuming being a authorized user on a credit card is… Read more »
Shelving in Shver’s Garage
Question: My shver rented his garage to a frum couple for many years. They are no longer married. They were informed sometime in August, or early September that he wanted… Read more »
Massar to use to pay someone else’s debt who can’t pay it back
Question: My father declared chapter 7 bankruptcy a couple years ago. There was an unsecured loan he had from a relative that was done with a heter iska (the business… Read more »
Ribbis
Question: Our groceries shop give 10% for customers who have an account (and thus frequently shop there) Although this is common and normal practice I just wanted to double check… Read more »
Maaser Money
Question: Is it better to split my maaser money between many organizations or give it all to one? Answer: It is better to split it, that way you have a… Read more »
Tzedakah
Question: Hi- if one had daas to give a certain amount of tzedakah to a meshulach and then he realized he didn’t have money on him or his credit card… Read more »
Ribbis in rental contract
Question: Hi, I’m about to take out a contract to rent a house. The rental is being managed by a letting agent, but I believe that the owner of the… Read more »
Salary
Question: I get a salary from my company, and was getting some money on the side to pay my kids tuition which was considered for me a raise, even though… Read more »
Ribis on spoiled grape juice
Question: I forgot to turn on the Shabbos mode on the refrigerator and my neighbor gave us a new bottle of grape juice that turned out to be spoiled. If… Read more »
Copied music
Question: Am I allowed to listen to music that is not rightly mine but has been copied from someone else? And am I allowed to listen to music that someone… Read more »
Money for KOLLEL
Question: If a working man puts away money so that he can retire early for kollel, can maasar money be used? Or put away money so that his daughter can… Read more »
Maaser fulfillment through donating appreciated stocks
Question: Shimon receives a gift of $100,000 and wants to give maaser. Shimon has a stock portfolio with a base cost of $6,000 that appreciated to $10,000. Can Shimon donate… Read more »
Yashrus with Online Course
Question: I paid for an online course with several sections. The course tracks the “completion” of each section, once the participant watches it. There is no professional component, it is… Read more »
Starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with Maaser money
Question: Can Maaser money be used to begin a nonprofit organization? The purpose of the organization is to increase and improve Torah learning and help people donate money to Torah… Read more »
Is it allowed to use money from maser to give Chanukah gelt to boys rebbi’s ?
Question: Is it allowed to use money from maser to give chanukah gelt to boys rebbei’s ? Answer: It is permitted to use maaser money when giving money to a… Read more »
Exchanging a book that was browsed thru
Question: I bought my wife a present, a cookbook. She did not make any of the dishes from the book, but she did browse thru it thoroughly. She now wants… Read more »
Credit card expense when giving maaser
Question: I would like to donate money to a charity in EY. I live in CA and if I pay by credit card I will be charged a foreign transaction… Read more »
Maaser for Future Weddings & Extra Tuition
Question: My Financial Situation: I have approximately 6 months worth of savings plus a retirement account with approximately 6 months of savings in it. My income fluctuates. Without calculating maaser,… Read more »
Maaser vs repaying flexible loan
Question: To buy my house I needed to take a mortgage together with a loan from my family. The terms of the family loan are very flexible: When I have… Read more »
Misor money for tzedukah
Question: I tutored someone for a college course in Math which came out to 700. The students parents promised me that I would get paid. They now said they are… Read more »
Therapy with Maaser
Question: Hello, my son’s Yeshiva has recommended that he see a therapist for certain behavioral issues he has. May we pay with Maaser funds? Secondly, the therapist recommends that he… Read more »
Halachic Ownership of Photos?
Question: I have had photos of 2 gedolim on my wall for several years. I just took them down becuase I wasn’t sure if I need permission to print them…. Read more »
Overcharging questions
Question: How does overcharging work on an online market place where the item is sold at a range of prices, not one set price? Is it mutar to charge at… Read more »
Overcharging in the general market
Question: Is it mutar lechatchila to overcharge for items when selling on an online market place. Very little information about the buyer is available and no information about the religion… Read more »
Sports betting
Question: Is it mutar (m’ikar hadin) to bet on sports? Not big money, only very small bets for fun to make the games more fun. Answer: Thank you for your… Read more »
Maaser to son for baby carriage
Question: My son and daughter in law that are newly married and live in Eretz Yisroel that I help support (as my son is learning in kollel) just had a… Read more »
Maaser for Mehudar Tefillin
Question: Hi, I am looking for a new pair of tefillin (for myself). Can I use maaser money for part of it? For the difference between “kosher lechatchila” and “mehudar”?… Read more »
Paying for job I didn’t agree to pay for
Question: Hi I was trying to get a appointment in a government office to register my child that she is getting married, (apparently there is a long waiting list), I… Read more »
Egged bus missing stops
Question: שלום וברכה, Occasionally when boarding an egged bus the Rav Kav processing system is down and the driver waives you onto the bus. I assume the correct thing to… Read more »
Late fee for rental
Question: B”H thank you so much for your quick reply. 1. If a person rents an apartment from a large real estate corporation that (I assume) has both Jews and… Read more »
Heter iska
Question: I am refinancing my house and will be signing a heter iska. Do I need to make sure to sign it before signing any of the other mortgage documents,… Read more »
Can we copy ideas and sell them?
Question: Sarah, a famous painter, goes to an art gallery and sees a painting that she really likes from an unknown artist. When she goes home she decides to recreate… Read more »
Interest
Question: B”H Regarding paying a Jewish person for their services, I used an online payment service that said they would charge the seller about $3.20 in fees. I sent payment… Read more »
Heter iskah after closing before first payment
Question: I just closed a mortgage on a house and still have not made my first payment. Now I found out that it is owned by someone jewish. My broker says… Read more »
Giving Maaser from money I receive from my parents
Question: My parents who are not religious support me and my two children completely (I am divorced). I have certain health issues and right now am completely dependent on them…. Read more »
Maaser for Kollel Support
Question: when supporting adult children, can it be taken from maaser funds? if not, what if they are a kollel couple? if yes, does it only qualify if they are… Read more »
Contract enforceability
Question: B”H Thank you very much for your help. Regarding terms and conditions that are frequently a condition of sale, if the seller has in the contract that the buyer… Read more »
Pidyon Nefesh
Question: Hi, I came across the concept of Pidyon Nefesh in Likkutei Maran, whereby you send a letter to a Tzaddik to daven for you in a time of a… Read more »
Using maaser money to pay for tickets to go visit parents?
Question: Using maaser money to pay for tickets to go visit parents? For myself, my wife and my children? Answer: It is permitted to use your maser money for it,… Read more »
Business transaction
Question: Hello, Many years ago, while I was a student, I had a business transaction that I’m not sure was ok from a halachic standpoint. And if it’s not ok,… Read more »
Can I use maaser money to take a course on how to check shatnez?
Question: Can i use maaser money to take a course on how to check shatnez? Thanks Answer: In general, we don’t use ma’aser money to do personal mitzvos, a person’s… Read more »
Bank deposited money in my account
Question: Hi I live in Israel and a while back one of the big Israeli banks where I use the ATM often deposited money in my US account, not much… Read more »
copying kitchen cabinets
Question: A relative of mine had a playroom cabinet with a variety of draws, cupboards and open areas incorporated in it, designed by a yidishe interior designer. If I like… Read more »
Calling police on jew
Question: Kavod Harav I love in artzot habrit America- I live in a dead end street where only residents may park. However at the end of the block is an… Read more »
Hoshen Mishpat
Question: The first Siman in Choshen Mishpat, what cases do Batei dinim judge today? For example, if my dog (assume i didn’t guard it properly) bites and kills my neighbour’s… Read more »
Genaivas Daas in Office
Question: My office is right next to a different employee. Although I am not trying to listen in, I often hear his phone conversations, being that we are so close… Read more »
What is the status of life insurance with regard to yerusha and a bechor
Question: Is life insurance considered a davar that is rauy lavo, or is it considered a davar hamuchzak? Is there a difference with regards to this between a whole life… Read more »