Paying for Unsolicited Services By: Dayan David Grossman, Rosh Bais HaVaad One may think that the Halacha of “Yored” (one who improves his friend’s property without permission) does not often apply. According to the Gemara, a person who completes a job without the owner asking for it, is called a “Yored L’Toch Sede Havero Shelo BiRshut” - a person who goes into his … [Read more...]
The Heart of the Matter
By Rav Yehonatan D. Hool – Bet HaVaad, Yerushalayim The Torah discusses the garments that the Kohanim wore in their service in the Mishkan. The Gemara (Zevahim 88b) explains that each one of the garments that the Kohanim wore atoned for a different sin. The Gemara relates that the Hoshen HaMishpat, the breastplate, atoned for erroneous judgments. The Kli Yakar (28:15) … [Read more...]
Ribbit: Matters of Interest
Cosigning and Similar Concepts It is definitely permitted for a Jew to co-sign as a standard Arev (guarantor) on a loan initiated by a public company. Being that the terms are that the lender will turn to the borrower for payment first, he is considered the borrower and the cosigner is merely guaranteeing the loan in the event of default. On the other hand, an Arev of the … [Read more...]
Ribbis: Matters of Interest
AREV: GUARANTEEING A LOAN (COSIGNERS) In certain instances, where a home buyer does not meet underwriting criteria, the bank may require a cosigner to guarantee the loan. The current practice of banks is to stipulate that they can collect from either the borrower or guarantor at their own discretion. Such a guarantor is referred to in Halacha as an “Arev Kablan” (equally … [Read more...]
Matters of Interest: Ribbit and Heter Iska
HETER ISKA II There are two basic types of Heter Iska that are written today; one is a “Hatzi Milveh Hatzi Pikadon” (half loan/half investment) and the other is a “Kulo Pikadon” )all investment). As a rule, money for which the recipient takes responsibility, is considered a loan, while money he is not responsible for is viewed as an investment. In a half loan/half … [Read more...]