By: Rabbi Yosef Greenwald The Offense of the Mi ShePara As we discussed in the previous segments, when one reneges on a Kinyan Kessef (backing out after the money was given, before taking the item into one’s possesion), he is subjected to the following curse: “Mi shepara, m'anshe dor hamabul um'anshei dor hapalaga, hu yifra etc.”. He (Hashem), who avenged the generation … [Read more...]
Ramifications of a Broken Kinyan: Reneging on an Agreement Part II
By: Rabbi Yosef Greenwald Did a broken Kinyan (transactional act) work in the first place? As we discussed last week, breaking a Kinyan Kesef – a transactional act where money was paid or a down payment was made on an item or moveable object – carries with it the Mi ShePara curse. Once a person reneges on a completed Kinyan, there is a discussion among the Poskim if it … [Read more...]
Matanot La’Evyonim FAQ’s
By Rav Mordechai Lebhar, Posek for the SHC and Rosh Kollel LINK, Los Angeles Q: How much do I have to give for Matanot La’Evyonim? A: Ribbi Yaakov Haim Benaim, one of the great sages of Morocco in the 18th century, in his work Zera Yaakov (§11) is the common source quoted regarding this question. Following a lengthy discussion, he finds support in the commentary of the … [Read more...]
The Crown Jewels Part 1: Who is responsible for stolen collateral?
By Dayan Yosef Greenwald I was recently walking in Midtown Manhattan and I passed by a famous bank. Outside of the bank was a glass display case with a beautiful collection of jewelry, including necklaces, watches and earrings that were obviously worth millions of dollars. I discovered that the jewelry was actually the crown jewels of a European royal family. The country was … [Read more...]
WEBSITES ON SHABBAT
Adapted from an article by Rabbi Baruch M. Levine In today’s business environment, most companies understand that they can no longer rely on a storefront and local community marketing to survive and turn a profit. Globalization, large corporations, and the dominance of digital media have forced business owners to find ways to establish a significant presence on the web. Many … [Read more...]