Is there a Halachic directive with regards to severance pay? By Dayan Baruch Meir Levine Q: After being a teacher for over 20 years at a local elementary school, I will be leaving at the end of this year. Baruch Hashem, the administration has been financially very supportive over the years despite the hardships they faced. However, they do not seem to be offering me any sort … [Read more...]

By Dayan Baruch M. Levine, Dayan at Bet HaVa’ad, Lakewood and noted author There is no more fundamental summer institution than summer camp – where a child creates valuable memories, experiences and friends that last a lifetime. Finding a suitable camp for your child can be quite an undertaking, and often times, whether for unforeseeable reasons or a sudden change of heart, a … [Read more...]

Bribery inside and outside the Bet Din By Dayan Yosef Greenwald, Bet HaVa’ad, Yerushalayim Bribery in its most obvious form is when a person offers a judge money so that he will decide the case in his favor. However, there are many other – more subtle – ways in which bribes can be offered, and in many cases these bribes are also included in the prohibition of Shohad … [Read more...]

Charging for lost income due to missed appointments By Dayan Yehoshua Grunwald, Dayan at the Bet HaVa’ad                                                                            Delinquent Clients Query: As a professional consultant, I service my clients for half-hour appointments scheduled in advance. Many times, clients miss appointments, causing loss of my time that … [Read more...]

Is one allowed to borrow from the Tzeddaka box? By Rav Yaakov Rappaport, Dayan for Bet HaVa’ad, South Bend, Indiana The Cohens, just like the rest of us, have a plethora of Tzeddaka boxes in their house, from Yeshivas to Bikkur Holim and various other Tzeddaka organizations. One of these Tzeddaka boxes comes with a convenient plastic cover, which can be removed and put back … [Read more...]