buying, selling, etc.
4
votes
0answers
67 views
Are coupons for Chometz - Chometz? II
Inspired by yydl's question.
I read that in Russia where bread was unpurchasable without "bread ration cards", people would save them throughout Pesach and use them after Pesach. One such person ...
5
votes
2answers
92 views
Are coupons for Chometz - Chometz?
Are coupons for items which are chometz, chometz themselves? Do they have a status of chometz, or can they be dealt with on Pesach?
For example: Can one acquire coupons for grain cereals on Pesach ...
11
votes
3answers
200 views
What happens if the non-Jew the chometz was sold to dies?
I can't imagine it has never come up before:
Someone sells their chometz before Pesach to a non-Jew. On Pesach the non-Jew dies. What happens now?
5
votes
0answers
92 views
Selling Seforim to Gentiles Online
The Yalkut Yosef 246:55 says:
וכן אסור למכור לגוי ספרי קודש, כמו תנ''ך וכדומה
Besikum: you can't sell holy books to gentiles.
What about online sales? Must you ask the buyer via email if he is ...
2
votes
0answers
102 views
Receiving dishes from a Jew - toivel (immerse)?
I inherited a set of dishes from a Jew.
I don't know how observant this Jew was.
Do I need to toivel them?
4
votes
1answer
205 views
In Israel, what do you do if Isru Chag of Pesach is on Shabbat?
In Israel, if Isru Chag of Pesach is on Shabbat, when do people reacquire their chametz that they sold on Pesach? Do they acquire it retroactively after the holiday is over, OR do they not acquire it ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
Selling on Amazon.com or Half.com on Shabbos or Yom Tov
There are some Rabanim that do not allow you to sell via your own website on Shabbos / Yom Tov. If you sell books on Amazon.com or Half.com where you do not collect the money nor fulfill the order on ...
8
votes
2answers
231 views
Lottery on Shabbos
Is one allowed to buy a lottery ticket if the lottery will be held on shabbos? Is it a problem of possibly making money on shabbos even though his chances are slim?
4
votes
1answer
88 views
What happened to Haman's money?
One of the more interesting encounters in the megilla takes place between Achashveirosh and Haman right after Haman decides to kill the Jewish people. Having decided on a date, Haman approaches ...
4
votes
1answer
76 views
Why was Boaz obligated to make yibum to get the field
Inspired by this weekly challenge.
Why did Boaz choose to make yibum to get the field of Machlon and Kilion. Couldn't he just buy the field from Ruth?
7
votes
1answer
68 views
Can you rely on the cashier?
If a cashier or other low level employee makes a financial decision in your favor ("keep the change" or "I'll let you use that coupon even if it expired" etc.), without checking with a manager/owner, ...
7
votes
1answer
84 views
Why is it ok to pay the kids for the afikoman?
Most Pesach sedarim feature the afikoman hide-and-seek game; either the children steal it and ransom it back or the parents hide it and (in my experience) pay a prize to the child who finds it. At ...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
Maaser on Selling Previously Purchased Items
Many times people buy things and then later resell them. Assuming no profit was made in this sale, is there an obligation to give Maaser on the newly acquired money?
Practical examples: eBay, college ...
6
votes
1answer
150 views
Is there a source for not buying things for a baby before it is born?
Is there any source for the custom to not buy things for a baby before it is born? I have heard that the reason is due to averting ayin hara, but I would like to know if there is any recorded source ...
7
votes
1answer
109 views
First-born animals today
From what I understand, the laws of "bechor behemah tehorah" (kosher first-born animal) are still in effect today, both in Israel and outside. To avoid problems with this, we sell a share of the ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Mitzvas Kesivas Sefer Torah
If you purchase a finished Sefer Torah are you Yotzei the Mitzva of Kesivas Sefer Torah?
6
votes
1answer
64 views
Benyamin's reward
Benyamin, while being quite young at the time, is notably missing when Yosef is sold. Does he deserve a reward for not participating or was he simply not included and therefore is incidental in the ...
4
votes
2answers
166 views
selling non-tznius clothing
Could selling non-tznius clothing in a clothing store be considered mesaye le-dvar aveira?
1
vote
2answers
147 views
Shopping on Chol Hamoed
Shopping is forbidden on Yom Tov, so there's also presumably a prohibition on it on Chol Hamoed. What are the parameters within which it's permitted on Chol Hamoed?
5
votes
2answers
156 views
Leaving your store open on Shabbos
If you leave your store open on shabbos for your non-jewish or non-observant workers to run, and you don't make any money from it (give all profits to workers) is that ok?
4
votes
1answer
71 views
Did the Jews in Egypt gain monetary benefit from the miracle of the first plague?
There is a well known Medrash Rabbah that the Jews during the Plague of Blood sold water to the Egyptians for exorbitant amounts of money. The question is how was this allowed as we have a rule that ...
6
votes
2answers
143 views
Is one allowed to cancel a check?
If I give a check to someone (as a gift) and I change my mind, am I halachically allowed to cancel it, or do we say that the check is a shtar, and by signing it is considered as if I gave him the ...
5
votes
2answers
138 views
Who sold Yosef, and who knew?
I had always understood that Yosef's brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites. We know that they planned to do so, but during this week's torah reading I noticed this for the first time:
כח ...
4
votes
1answer
338 views
Lifting a handkerchief before signing the Ketubah?
I know at a Jewish wedding, just before the Ketubah is signed, the groom picks up a handkerchief in front of everyone. I remember this has something to do with "kinyan chalifin"; could someone please ...
7
votes
2answers
124 views
Attaching Conditions to a Sale
If I sell someone an item (e.g. an orange), and I attach a condition (e.g. "you may not make orange juice"), is it successfully binding? What happens if that someone does violate the condition (e.g. ...
5
votes
1answer
219 views
Would you make a Shehechiyanu when you lease a new car?
When you purchase a new car you would make a Shehechiyanu. Would you also make a Shehechiyanu if you leased a new car?
3
votes
3answers
100 views
Why did Efron have such an extreme change of heart?
When Avram wanted to buy the field that belonged to Efron, Efron said I want to give it to you for free, then after Avram said that I wanted to pay for it Efron charged him a ridiculous price for it.
...
14
votes
3answers
259 views
Is a contract over Chat/IM/SMS “written” or “oral”?
Halakhically, is a business transaction conducted over Chat/IM/SMS a "written" or "oral" contract?
Chat is oral-style communication in a textual medium. Does the fact that it's actually written ...
5
votes
3answers
248 views
Simchas Yom Tov for one's wife: what if she otherwise gets clothes etc.?
A husband is supposed to ensure his wife's Simchas Yom Tov by buying her something (new jewelry, clothes, etc.) for the holiday. If she has already received such an item from a different source, and ...
9
votes
2answers
309 views
Can an ecommerce website remain open on Shabbat?
This question is more general and doesn't apply specifically to ecommerce sites even though the discussion mentions them a little.
Specifically, we know we can't do business on Shabbat. So what is ...
4
votes
1answer
44 views
Buying New Electronics During the 9 Days
Is one allowed to buy new electronic devices during the nine days (e.g. cellphone, laptop)?
6
votes
2answers
82 views
Does a discount to a poor person count as tzedakah?
If someone performs a service for a poor person and gives a discount in order to help him out, does the difference count as tzedakah? If so, can the full amount be counted towards maaser, or do we say ...
8
votes
2answers
91 views
When a goel (close relative) redeems property, who actually takes possession?
The Torah describes in our parshah how, if a person is poor and has to sell his ancestral real estate, "his goel, who is closely related to him, should come and redeem his brother's sale" (Lev. ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
Overcharging or Undercharging (Ona'a)
The Halacha of Ona'a is that if an item was sold for more than 1/6 difference in real value the buyer and or seller can cancel the sale. How is Ona'a figured on for example fresh salmon? There are ...
6
votes
2answers
162 views
Can you sell your sins?
Can someone who has done an Aveira pay someone to transfer the punishment to him?
