Learning with the Lender Reuven borrowed money from Shimon, and Shimon used the opportunity to inquire if Reuven would want to setup a Havruta session with him. Is this an issue of Ribbit? The Shulhan Aruch writes that a borrower may not tutor the lender, nor the lender’s son, unless he had been doing so previously. Some Poskim write that this is forbidden even if the … [Read more...]
Ribbit: Matters of Interest
USING A BORROWER’S CD OR MP3 PLAYER Reuven owes Shimon money. May Shimon use Reuven’s CD or MP3 player without permission if he knows Reuven lets others use it without permission? May Shimon take some of Reuven’s coffee in the coffee room without permission, if he is sure Reuven doesn’t mind? Shimon may not use the CD or MP3 player without Reuven’s knowledge. This … [Read more...]
Ribbit: Matters of Interest
Regarding favors and Ribbit, the following levels of friendship and favors are discussed in Halacha: Acquaintances: Favors one would not have done otherwise: A private favor the borrower would not have done previously for the lender, may not be extended to the lender during the loan period (i.e., using the lender’s alarm clock without permission) even with the lender’s … [Read more...]
Ribbit: Matters of Interest
USUAL AND UNUSUAL FAVORS May a person do favors for someone he owes money to? For example, Reuven, who owes Shimon money, was in a Sefarim store and saw a Sefer that Shimon always wanted. May he do him a favor and buy the Sefer? What if they always exchange favors? What if they became friends through the loan process? A teacher lent money to a student for a taxi ride … [Read more...]
Ribbit: Matters of Interest
PURCHASING A HOME UNDER SOMEONE ELSE’S NAME Sometimes, when a person cannot obtain a mortgage using his own name, he may ask a relative to obtain the mortgage for him. We will refer to the person trying to purchase the home as the buyer, and the one obtaining the mortgage as the relative. The relative would then legally buy the house and take out a mortgage under his own … [Read more...]