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 »
Category: Theft and robbery
Tzedakah question
Question: Years ago, I used to collect money for various tzedakah causes. At one point I borrowed some money from the funds collected (I know I probably shouldn’t have) with… Read more »
Paying for magazine subscription
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. My question is: before becoming observant, I had a sports magazine subscription. I was recently going through papers from years ago,… Read more »
free shipping/ theft?
Question: B”H Thank you for your help. My question is: I recently ordered something online from a Jewish company. One of the items that I ordered was not in stock,… Read more »
Returning insignificant item
Question: I’m a Physical therapist who visits children’s homes for sessions. I noticed that apparently I mistakenly took a small ball from a child’s home. I looked on Amazon and… Read more »
Required to return a coat tag accidentally taken?
Question: Hi, Last year (pre-covid!) I attended a conference and accidentally took a coat check tag home with me. The coat tags are plastic and designed to be long lasting… Read more »
theft?
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. My question is: In the earlier stages of becoming observant, I remember that I took a picture of the cover of… Read more »
Using Extra Towel Mikvah
Question: Lechvod Harabbunim. I go to the mikvah every day in the early morning before anybody comes. I pay a monthly fee. Normally the floor is clean, but many days… Read more »
Using someone’s internet wifi that doesnt have a password
Question: Is it permissible to use somebody’s internet wifi (without asking their permission) if it doesnt have a password? Thank you Answer: It is very hard to answer such a… Read more »
Paying for benefit
Question: In my yeshiva dormitory, the wash machine costs 7 nis to operate and so does the dryer. The yeshiva’s policy though is that yeshiva property – specifically, towels and… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Claiming unemployment
Question: I lost my job 2 months ago due to covid-19. I have been claiming unemployment. Every time I recertify they always ask if I am ready, willing and able… Read more »
Theft from getting cheaper hotel rate
Question: BH Thank you so much for your help. My question is: If a hotel quoted a certain day rate when booking a room, and after checking out of the… Read more »
fine for library books
Question: When a person does not return books on time to the library, they give him a fine. If the fine reaches a significant amount of money, they will block… Read more »
Paying for mikvah after using it
Question: A man snuck into the mikveh each day for a year without paying. He wants to do teshuvah now . Does he pay back the daily rate or the… Read more »
Food in yeshiva cafeteria
Question: I’m in a yeshiva in which the first boys who show up to breakfast sometimes take disproportionately large portions of food for themselves. If there is no explicit rule… Read more »
Uncertainty in payment
Question: To use a laundry machine in my yeshiva dormitory costs 14 NIS. I always pay for using it, sometimes before I use it and sometimes after (the money is… Read more »
Re: Question 54845
Question: Hi I just received an answer to my question 54845 about the arnona bill my parents paid. I thank you for your answer. The parents did not know of… Read more »
Received discount for bill after it was paid by father
Question: Hi I am currently learning and supported by my parents. I had to pay arnona (property tax in Israel) so my parents said they would just add it onto… Read more »
Gnivah but I don’t know who to return it to
Question: What to do if I committed theft and am unable to find the person(s) to pay them back? Do I have to repay in full or sevenfold? Answer: First… Read more »
Returning item that’s not mine
Question: Good morning! A few years ago ,our family went with our extended family for a “Shabbas away from home “ to a camp E/ family stayed in df bungalow… Read more »
Walking on a persons property
Question: 1. Am I allowed to pass by on someone else’s property w/ out permission? 2. Am I allowed to pass by a property that’s owned by a Jew with… Read more »
Guess promo code
Question: Hi may a person guess a promo code for a discount while checking out on website (non jew owned)? Thank you Answer: If the person is not entitled to… Read more »
German Reparations for survivors
Question: Is it allowed to withhold some information about assets that you have in order for a survivor to qualify and meet the rquirements according to the german rules for… Read more »
paying back for copyright infringement
Question: I used to have illlegally downloaded music and games. I long ago realized it is wrong, and deleted them all. am I chayiv to pay for the benefit I… Read more »
international shipping
Question: Hello, Thank you for your help. My question is regarding customs declarations. I recently ordered clothing from China and the merchandise is fine. The order totaled around $450 US… Read more »
Selling property in the process of being recovered from thief
Question: Can owner of movable property that currently in possession of thief sell those items if the original owner is certain they’ll be able to recover the property in beis… Read more »
Hotel Shampoo
Question: Can I take home unused shampoos that were left in the hotel room during my stay. I used one of them but not the other? Answer: The individual shampoos… Read more »
Lost a pen
Question: I was using a cheap pen that was provided for staff members to use at the place that I work. I ended up losing the pen. Do I need… Read more »
May a parent dispose/use items of children under the age of bar-mitzva?
Question: Many times the mother cleans the house and would like to clear out all the junk which children are want to hoard. Another common situation is where the child… Read more »
paying
Question: One who is getting $300 a month as a kollel check but there were certain days that he missed due to oversleeping (I am not sure exactly how many… Read more »
Medical Billing
Question: Several years back when I first begun working in the healthcare industry I had a situation where I billed an insurance company and the insurance company overpaid our company…. Read more »
Hafkaas halvah
Question: In the classic case of hafkaas halvaah the borrower tells the children of the malveh who passed away that the chov was paid up when actually it wasn’t. Isn’t… Read more »
Using someone else’s coffee
Question: I used coffee thinking it was the public’s and then notice it said a name on it, I’m. It sure how many cups of coffee I took from it… Read more »
credit cards
Question: I applied for a credit card under my name and I get bonus miles for spending at least $4,000 in the first 3 months. is there an issue with… Read more »
regarding the גדר of גזל
Question: We were on a trip and we needed to make a rest stop. we were in the middle of nowhere and we found a restroom to use in the… Read more »
Took items from seminary
Question: I took something from the seminary I was in when we had a baking class. The school didn’t let us take some of the extras that I took and… Read more »
blackmail
Question: Hi I’m in a dira in Bnei Brak and someone has info on me and he is forcing me to give 1000 dollars or he will leak the info…. 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Knas in yeshiva
Question: Is a Yeshiva allowed to ask bucherim for knas for coming late in the morning? If yes, what’s the limit? Is the Yeshiva supposed to give back the money… Read more »