Question: The Shulchan Aruch (CM 70, 1) says that a loan with a shatar is משובח יותר do the poskim say the same about an employment agreement? Answer: It is… Read more »
Category: Monetary Law and Charity
Theft concern from Airline by not paying overweight
Question: Many times I flew on Elal and their baggage allowance was 20 kg which wasn’t a practical amount. So over the years, I developed different ways to get more… Read more »
Followup to Maaser and Tuition
Question: They send me an itemized bill but it doesn’t add up, they refuse to discuss why… Whatever I earn goes to my private bank account that my husband does… Read more »
Using maaser for an adult child’s ongoing therapy.
Question: We have an adult child without sufficient income that needs ongoing therapy and psychiatry that is very costly. Can we use maaser money to help her? Thank you. Answer:… Read more »
Paying for benefiting from a shul or website
Question: Hi, if I daven in the same shteiblich every morning and enjoy the AC and obviously the lighting, is it advisable to contribute to the financing someway? I don’t… Read more »
Maaser for a well needed vacation
Question: My father has always struggled financially. Recently, he was very ill and has mostly recovered. He wants to take my mother on vacation after all they went through but… Read more »
halachic will
Question: I wanted to down load the halachic will from you web site for some reason it did not work can you send it to me by email greatly appreciated… Read more »
Parents unpaid tuition
Question: My parents still owe tuition money for yeshivas that I went to as a Bachur and are slowly paying it back. Should I be the one to pay the… Read more »
Theft?
Question: B”H Thank you very much for your help. Good Shabbos. (This question is based on something that happened years ago, before becoming observant). I purchased a luggage item online… Read more »
Giving money to kohen for Pidyon haben.
Question: Hi, I did a Pidyon Haben for my son almost one and a half years ago. But, I am worried that there was a slight issue. please help clarify… Read more »
Do you have ready made loan shtar.
Question: Do you have ready made loan shtar. Answer: Unfortunately we don’t have any specific text for a shtar, there isn’t that much that you have to know in order… Read more »
Changing mind on purchase price of house
Question: About 15 years ago, while we were still living in Australia, we negotiated with an elderly Jewish lady to buy her house which was on the market. A couple… Read more »
Injury due to negligence
Question: HI, My father in law lives in an adult home with his wife. After attending his daf yomi shiur, Sunday morning – he went to the elevator to go… Read more »
Asnan question
Question: What would be the halakha if a prostitute brings a maaser kesafim to Beis Hamikdash? Answer: It would depend on different factors. see O:CH 153-21 and M:B there. Also… Read more »
Responsibility To Refund Charges
Question: in 2015 I entered into a contractual agreement with a client (not Jewish) to provide CPA services for her. Per the contract, I was to charge her account $250… Read more »
Maaser on Inheritance
Question: Received some money as inheritance from a parent who passed away, must separate maaser? Obligation or just “nice to do”. Same 10% and treated as income? Thanks, Answer: Inheritance… Read more »
How much am I obligated to pay for braking a phone screen I borrowed
Question: Sholom Dayonim, I borrowed a phone to use for zoom from someone who runs an internet filter who received the phone as a donation so they could test out… Read more »
Can a seller refuse to extend a sales contract?
Question: If a Jewish seller and a non-jewish buyer enter into a sales contract, and the deal does not close on time due to the buyer’s failure to meet all… Read more »
Monetary questions regarding a broken engagement
Question: My daughter got engaged on the Shabbos right after Purim. She was living in a community of mostly older singles. Her future chasson was “koneh” the Engagement ring for… Read more »
Sofer Donating Mezuzos to Shul from Maaser Money
Question: I am a sofer and write many mezuzos. Can I give some of the mezuzos to an organization – a shul or yeshiva and consider it as if I gave the… Read more »
Maaser and Sleepaway Camp
Question: Is it permissible to partially pay for sleepaway camp for a teenage daughter with maaser money. Especially because of Coronavirus, it is evident that she really needs to get… Read more »
Restitution payment
Question: Does Ha’anaka applies to a part time worker too? Answer: The halachos of Ha’anaka do not apply nowadays, because this mitzva only applies to to a master giving his… Read more »
Verbal agreement in Halakha
Question: Reuven hires Shimon to do a job. Reuven and Shimon have known each other a long time. Shimon wants Reuven to sign a contract but Reuven says it’s not… Read more »
Stopping someone from doing an aveira
Question: Is it permitted to “steal” someones internet device if I know they are doing aveiros with it? I am the only one who knows about the device and the… Read more »
Moving someones property
Question: If someone moves someone else’s belongings making them an aveida is he called a ganav? To be clear the person does not want to keep it and did not… Read more »
Vaad Bayit obligation of empty apt for cleaning vs infrequent repars
Question: In our building one of the neighbors unfortunately passed away about a year and a half ago. The yorshim have not yet been able to sell the apartment which… Read more »
Ripped cds from the past
Question: Shalom, I found copies of cds that I made for myself as kid, by borrowing cds from the library, copying songs that I liked, and making mixed cds for… Read more »
Duplicate product sent
Question: Shalom, A seller who has a small company in Europe, sold me a product from his company (in such a small company he’s both owner and customer service guy)… Read more »
Cash back from maaser
Question: I have a bank account which gives a certain amount of cash back for every transaction, similar to most credit cards which offer 1-2% of each transaction as cash… Read more »
Shavuah in modern Beis Din
Question: Is modern-day beis din allowed to impose shavuah? If yes, is this actually done? Thank you Answer: In general it is not actually done. Best wishes
Helping only one Torah institution
Question: Can I just help only one Torah institution? I once heard that one can not and that one should diversify his maaser money. Is there a halacha forbidding to… Read more »
Mold in rental apartment caused severe respiratory issues – Follow Up Safek
Question: This is a follow up question to your previous answer which I will paste below: The issue regarding not vacating at the time the mold was discovered was due… Read more »
A gift with a condition
Question: Hi, a parent gave me a sum of money to be used at my discretion in general, but not to be used for Torah studies. Do I have to… Read more »
dowloading pdf books
Question: According to what I understand, the United States copyright law says downloading for free, the pdf version of a copyrighted book that you don’t own, even for personal use,… Read more »
Mold in rental apartment caused severe respiratory issues
Question: I was renting an apartment for 5 years. About six months into our stay, I contacted the landlord and said that I believe there is mold in our a/c… Read more »
Forgetting to pay
Question: What is the halacha if someone rented a car service from a goy over a year ago, and now he remembers he forgot to pay the goy at the… Read more »
Stimulus Payment for a Yeshiva Bachur
Question: My 18 year old son can theoretically apply for the $1200 Stimulus Payment that the American government is giving out this year in wake of corona. In 2019, we… Read more »
Asking a borrower for my money
Question: Hi 4 years ago I lent someone a lot of money for a period of 10 months. When I ask him 10 months later he told me that he… Read more »
Maaser before taxes vs. after taxes?
Question: Hi, If we are giving 10% maaser from our income before paying income taxes Vs somebody who gives 10% maaser after paying income taxes, in essence is person who… Read more »
Is tzedakah time sensitive per year?
Question: H 1. If one didn’t give the minimum required amount of tzedakah not necessarily maaser (I read its 1/3 a silver shekel) for a few years is one required… Read more »
Can taxes be subtracted from my income regarding maaser?
Question: What is subtracted from the amount of tzedaka you should pay? Are expenses subtracted? Tax? Assuming that expenses are subtracted, would a fee paid to an accountant to file… Read more »
Responsibility for determining job fulfillment
Question: 1. Mrs. L (local) is a friend of a kallah (K) who lives in California 2. The chuppah was in California. K’s parents were local in the city where… Read more »
Paying Arnona as a renter for the stairwell of the building
Question: I live in Israel and as the common practice is that the renters pay the property tax, I wanted to know, my municipality did a reevaluation of the property… Read more »
Unable to pay for bus ride
Question: I boarded an Egged bus with an intention to buy a Rav Kav on board, as is generally possible. I approached the driver and asked to do so, but… Read more »
Investing as a silent partner and Ribbis
Question: If one invests money as a silent partner receiving a percentage of sales or a salary, with no intent of it being a loan, is a heter iska necessary… Read more »
Buying a car with installments
Question: If a car dealership in Israel gives you the choice to either buy a car for a certain price and pay immediately, or buy it for a higher price… Read more »
Responsibility for payment
Question: I did an order with a store (in Israel) before Pesach. Before my order was processed I gave them my credit card information over the phone. My card was… Read more »
Scale question
Question: B”H Thanks in advance for the clarification- I also wanted to ask: Is it ok to buy and use a digital scale for purposes of measuring body weight? Thank… Read more »
Accurate Weights and Measures
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. My question is: I have a bathroom scale that uses a dial (not digital) to display weight. Sometimes, the starting amount… Read more »
Need to reimburse/mechila for ‘small’ damages?
Question: Hi, I’ve two choshen mishpat questions regarding from a while ago when I was a counselor at a special needs camp. 1) I used someone’s watergun whilst which I… Read more »