Giving Tzedakka to Shul Solicitors By Rav Yehonatan Sasportas Q: Am I required to contribute to a poor man soliciting funds in shul if I wasn't personally asked for a donation or if I am in the middle of my Tefilla? A: The Mitzvah of Tzedakka comprises both a negative and a positive commandment. The Torah (Devarim 15, 7-8) says “Lo Te'ametz” – “you shall not harden your … [Read more...]

Are you allowed to use an item that you intend to return? By Dayan Yehoshua Grunwald As we discussed in previous articles, sometimes the buyer has the right to return an item to the seller while, at times, it may be subject to the seller’s discretion. An important discussion regarding an item that is bound for return as it was a Mekah Ta’ut – a mistaken purchase – pertains to … [Read more...]

Enacting a Halachically viable return policy  By Dayan Yehoshua Grunwald Q: I have a store and it is too costly to accept returns from everyone that claims that the merchandise was defective. What can I do to resolve the issue of Mekah Ta’ut (a mistaken purchase)? A: There are two distinct issues with sales of defective merchandise: one of Genevat Da’at (tricking the buyer) … [Read more...]

Is one allowed to own shares in companies which trade on Shabbat, sell Hametz or lend with interest? By Dayan Shlomo Cohen The Legal status of a Corporation In law, a corporation is a separate identity from its stockholders. A "veil" separates the stockholder from the assets of the corporation, which are not considered as his property, but those of the corporation. The … [Read more...]

By Dayan Baruch Levin Q: I own an apartment building which is managed by a non-Jewish manager. He oversees all maintenance work, such as landscaping, gutter cleaning, snow removal, etc. Although I do not dictate to him when these tasks should be done, I happen to know that he often has workers get them done on Shabbat or Yom Tov. Am I required to ensure that this does not … [Read more...]