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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 is a unique limitation even between friends, aimed at preventing a lender from dominating a borrower. Therefore, although Reuven would definitely allow Shimon to use the CD or MP3 player without permission just as he allows anyone else, nevertheless since Shimon has the status of a lender he is required to ask permission first.
In instances where Reuven has previously allowed Shimon to use his CD or MP3 player (ragil) without permission, most Poskim permit Shimon to use them now even though he currently has the status of a lender. The same would apply to taking coffee without permission.
In the case of the coffee, aside from the laws of Ribbit there is an issue of Gezela (theft) according to some Poskim (who differentiate between consumption and borrowing) although he knows his friend would let him take.
One should therefore be stringent and ask permission, unless specifically granted permission to take whenever they want.