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 »
Category: Theft and robbery
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 »
borrowing without permission from the owner
Question: I am currently in a mother and baby resort for women who have just given birth to babies. Twice a week a photographer comes to take portraits of the… Read more »
Daughter and Son In Law – Maaser Money
Question: If one has a daughter and son-in-law in kollel and actually living a kollel life (very minimal expenditures, very simple life), are parents permitted to use maaser money to… Read more »
Switching items in shul
Question: Last Shabbos it was raining in my neighborhood and I brought my rain coat (a shayne coat) with my name in it to shul. For some reason when I… Read more »
Returning stolen object or money
Question: If a person stole money or an object, can he return it without the owner’s knowledge? If he must inform the owner, can he return it with an anonymous… Read more »
Money for a haircut
Question: There is a rosh kollel who came over to me in beis medrash, put $100 into my hand, and told me to get a haircut (because he felt that… Read more »
Can Jews buy lottery tickets?
Question: I am confused as to whether buying lottery tickets is prohibited. I know that gambling is prohibited because it is considered to be a “theft” in that people expect… Read more »
Paying back the mikva fee
Question: Shalom, I attend the mikvah sometimes before shachris etc, however the local mikvah’s payment machine seems to have constant problems resulting in me often being unable to pay (yet… Read more »
Underpaid on the bus
Question: If a person accidentally underpaid his fare on a bus, and did not realize until later, what is the appropriate tikkun? Do we say that since the bus driver… Read more »
Stealing for non-kosher
Question: Is it permissible to throw out or get rid of anyway a food that is not kosher that you are afraid someone is going to eat if not thrown… Read more »
Taking from others without permission
Question: Is it permitted to take/use an item that belongs to your close friend/ family member without asking permission if you know without a doubt that they would let… Read more »
Real estate lease
Question: I own a warehouse of 73,000 square feet. I have a single tenant currently in the whole building. They want to downsize when their lease is up in a… Read more »
stamps
Question: Are you allowed to use a stamp from an envelope that was returned Answer: Depends, if it happened in Israel the stamp should be destroyed as one has to… Read more »
Can I cut schach from a public tree without getting permission from the government?
Question: There is a tree on a small island in a public park where the palm branches are getting old and falling off anyway as there is no gardening there…. Read more »
Can i take food from Yeshivas kitchen without permission?
Question: it stealing to take food from the Yeshivas kitchen without asking, if eventually they will use it/ serve it. For example, there is a box a cereal thats out… Read more »
Can I Skip the Agent
Question: I work as a freelance graphic artist, producing pictures and advertisements for various customers. I have one client, an advertising executive, whom I service occasionally doing all kinds… Read more »
monetary
Question: when I was a bar mitzvah bachur (and before then),I used to ride on the yeshiva buses without paying for them. The story is as follows: three of the… Read more »
supermarket goods stolen
Question: an answer was posted with regards to stolen supermarket goods from the door of one’s house how can i be responsible to pay for something i never acquired? outside… Read more »
monetary
Question: i may have taken longer than usual showers when i was in the dorm of a yeshiva.i am uncertain if my parents were paying for the dorm.also ,in a… Read more »
shlichut
Question: I was asked if I can buy a expesive item for my friend and to lay out the money. I bought it and a אונס happened on the way… Read more »
Delivered order that was stolen
Question: Hi. I ordered an order from my local supermarket. They dropped it off on the top step leading to my house. (I live in a single family house). They… Read more »
Can I “lose” a library book in order to keep it? What is my owndershi
Question: There is a book that I’d like to buy, but it is out of print and I can’t find it anywhere for a reasonable price. I see that the… Read more »
Ethics in school
Question: If a teacher gives a test to one set of students in the first session. Then the same/very similar test to the second set of students an hour later,… Read more »
Stole Food from Office Kitchen
Question: My office has a kitchen where the company puts food that everyone can take. People also order lunch, which is delivered to the kitchen. One of the companies that… Read more »
Reason for Mice Infestation
Is it true if you have had mice in your house its because of thievery ? Answer: The Jerusalem Talmud [Demai 1:3] and the Medrash Rabba [Devarim 3:3] tell the… Read more »
Robin Hood and Judaism
What is the jewish opinion on Robin Hood. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Thank you Answer: Stealing is a Torah prohibition and a person’s altruistic motives… Read more »
Class Conversation
If you have not completed the assigned reading for a class, is it Gineivas Das to still participate in class conversation about the reading? (For example, you are still able… Read more »
Tasting Grapes in Store
If you are at the grocery store and would like to buy grapes but do not know if the grapes are good or not, are you able to try them… Read more »
Sharing Employee Discount
Your friend has a job at David’s Tea and she gets a 50% off discount on everything in the store. You ask her to give you her discount because you… Read more »
Uninvited Guest
Hi, If someone is only invited to a wedding for the chuppah, is one allowed to stay for the entire wedding and eat the meal? Usually, the baal simcha will… Read more »
Downloading Music Without Pay
is it muttar to download a single jewish song online without paying? (this is as apposed to an entire album) Answer: If it a song which is not distributed for… Read more »
Newspaper Handout
When I walk through Binyanei Hauma in the morning, there is a gentleman who gets paid to hand out newspapers. I see how happy he is when someone takes… Read more »
Overpayed Scholarship Money
Shalom Rebbi, I have the following sheyla. I am starting a course in computer science which is quite expensive. I applied for 2 scholarships and baroch Hashem I was successful…. Read more »
Using Recordings without Permission
A kiruv organization lend me a camera to record some shiurim for them. I ask a bachur yeshiva to help me with the filming, after the task he upload the… Read more »
Using Broker’s Information
I work in real estate. If a broker who is a goy makes a property known publicly that is for sale and after seeing their advert I want to contact… Read more »
Tasting from Friend’s Plate
My friend and I go to an “all you can eat” buffet. My friend pays for the buffet and fills his plate. He gives me a few things from his… Read more »
Liability for Stolen Guitar
I need help with a halachic question! I loaned a valuable guitar to a friend’s daughter. I asked for it back many times in writing, but never got a reply…. Read more »
Reading Book in Store
Is it assur to walk into a seforim store, look something up in a sefer and then just walk out without having ever had intent to buy the sefer (meaning… Read more »
Payment for Stolen Money
Hi it’s now before Rosh Hashana and I would like to do teshuva on a very big sin I did. I hope you can help me with that. I work… Read more »
Forgiveness for Theft
Dear Rabbi, Can one forgive a thief? I took something from a place some time ago, and did not return it. I recently sent them a letter about this and… Read more »
Playing Ball at JCC
In rockville maryland there is a JCC (Jewish comunity center) most likely owned by Jewish owners (although the center is open on Shabbos) that provides swimming pools, workout room, basketball… Read more »
Invitation to Poker Game
I am part of a poker game that meets for a few hours every month. We play for small amounts of money. We are all Ashkenazim and one of the… Read more »
Student Bus Pass
For the last 2 years, there has been a course for men at a religious girls’ college. You sign up and pay for the 10 week course, and they issue… Read more »
Giving Tour of Facility
I am a sometimes Mashgiach at a location that is owned by goyim. They give paid tours of the facility. I was asked to give someone a private tour of… Read more »
Getting Money Back from Minor
Yaakov’s son Reuven is 16 years old and took from me ($10,000) and I know Reuven has enough money (of his own) to pay. Both Yaakov and Reuven refuse to… Read more »
Owner of Gemach Took Somebody’s Clothes
Someone has by their house a Gemach where they take in clothing to distribute to people in need. Often people come and leave begadim by the door. The person then… Read more »
Forgiving Swindler
Shalom, A Non-Jew cheated me out of $100 (sold me 2 phones but never switched them out of his name. He told me he would but now he won’t answer… Read more »
Leaves from Bushed in the Public Domain
We live near a public thoroughfare where there are shops and stores. Near one store there are some aromatic bushes growing. I’m not sure who it belongs to-it may have… Read more »
Responsibility for Stolen Sefer Torah
If, Chas va’chalilah, a Sefer Torah is stolen from a shul would the gabbaim or shamash be responsible for damages? Answer: In general, the gabbaim or shamash of a shul… Read more »