Avissar Family Ribbit Initiative   INTRODUCTION People will encounter many common Ribbit problems without ever realizing that they exist. Some may be questions of Ribbit D'Oraita which must be returned. Other times it can be D'Rabannan which one should be Mahmir (stringent) to return. In all cases they must be avoided. Hachamim are very stringent about any form of … [Read more...]

Reuven allows Shimon to make a purchase on his credit card. Shimon will pay the issuing bank directly, including the interest charged by the bank, several months hence. Both men reckon that there is no Ribbit problem, because the bank isn’t owned by Jews. But Halacha views this case differently. The bank has never heard of Shimon; the responsible party on the account is … [Read more...]

  Avissar Family Ribbis Initiative Many common financial transactions involve Ribbit, so pitfalls abound for the unaware. Following are some common business activities that can, depending on the circumstances, constitute ribbit. • COSIGNING: Cosigning on a loan or car lease, even where the lender isn’t Jewish or is a publicly-traded financial institution. • CREDIT … [Read more...]

Who is subject to Ribbit? All participants in the transaction violate issurim: lender, borrower, witness, guarantor, and scribe or attorney. Banks and publicly traded companies As ribbit is only prohibited where both parties are Jewish, one may borrow at interest from a publicly-traded bank or financial institution, where the religion of principals of the company is not … [Read more...]

By Dayan Yosef Greenwald Q: May one use Ma'aser money to support communal services or institutions that require the support of everyone in the community, such as a Mikveh, a Shul, or an Eruv? According to the rules of Hoshen Mishpat, such support should in fact be obligatory upon all members of the community. Consequently, if the building of the shul needs improvement, such … [Read more...]