buying, selling, etc.
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 ...
12
votes
3answers
144 views
If a person voids a purchase/sale, what happens to the Bracha?
You buy a new Talis and after you wear it you notice a defect. You want to return it to the store for a refund or replacement. However a person is only obligated in Tzitzis if he owns or borrows the ...
12
votes
1answer
156 views
How much must one do to to sign a contract?
Nowadays most software comes with a EULA. In order to install the software one must click the "agree" button. However, there are some software that says are distributed through different licenses. For ...
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?
11
votes
1answer
132 views
Bagging meat with milk
Two different supermarket cashiers have expressed mild surprise at my willingness to put cold, packaged meat and cold, packaged cheese in the same shopping bag, explaining that other Jewish customers ...
10
votes
1answer
182 views
Does a child own what he's implicitly given by his parents?
I assume that when a parent owns an object and a child uses it, it remains the property of the parent's absent any intent/declaration on the parent's part to grant it to the child (and absent an act ...
10
votes
1answer
199 views
What is the halachic status of things in outer space?
Is everything in outer space hefker? For example if a private person lands on the moon or an asteroid can he be koneh it? Do you retain the rights to something that you send into space?
9
votes
2answers
308 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 ...
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. ...
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?
7
votes
1answer
391 views
Does casual sex establish a marriage?
Do premarital sexual relations effect Kiddushin (betrothal/first step of Jewish marriage) if there is no intention of getting married?
If so, is the physical act itself determinative of whether or ...
7
votes
1answer
95 views
Product liability in halacha
What does Judaism say about product liability? That is, if I sell someone a product and — because it was manufactured
poorly or
not as advertised
— the purchaser sustains damage, to ...
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 ...
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. ...
7
votes
1answer
108 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
81 views
Paying bill for aveirah already done
Is one allowed to pay a service fee for an aveirah which someone else has already done, in order to get some other good or service now? The case I had in mind is an animal adoption where the agency ...
6
votes
4answers
115 views
Asara Haruge Malchut (Ten Martyrs), why were 10 Rabbis killed?
In Vayigash, Rabenu Bahya (also the Zohar) comments and says that the reason we had Asara Haruge Malchut because the brothers sold Yosef. However, Reuven didn't sell Yosef, so why should the ...
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?
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 ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
114 views
Does it matter through whom you sell your chometz?
I have seen online forms and received emails from many far-flung places offering to sell my chometz for me. I also have a competent Rabbi in my local shul who is willing to do it. No two of these ...
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 ...
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
92 views
Presents on shabbas
Can one give a present on shabbas? If the answer is no, then how does it work when one eats by someones house the food one gets is a present (it is changing reshus). Sources please.
6
votes
2answers
247 views
What is a good place to buy kabbalah seforim online?
I am aware of Nehora and the other sites I could find googling this same inquiry, I'm looking for other recommendations of sites that have a good selection. Specifically I'm looking for Kanfei Yona ...
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
234 views
5
votes
2answers
156 views
Business with Christians during their holiday periods
According to those who hold that Christianity is avodah zarah, may Jews do business with Christians within three days of Sunday (or if you want, within 3 days of Dec. 25 or Easter) in light of the ...
5
votes
2answers
91 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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
155 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?
5
votes
1answer
270 views
What are the halachot of Chanukat Habayit?
What are the laws and customs appertaining to chanukat habayit?
At what point, if at all, should you make a shehechiyanu; upon closing? Moving in?
Should you make a chanukat habayit on a home that ...
5
votes
2answers
118 views
renting a simcha hall from a church
Is there a halachic problem with renting a hall that belongs to a church for a bar mitzvah?
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?
5
votes
0answers
64 views
Mistake when buying ring to get married with
The following case might perhaps be too localized however I'm asking it as a theoretical question in order to understand these laws in Choshen Mishpat and Evan HaEzer better.
A Kallah (bride) went to ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
36 views
Do reward tokens qualify halachically as money?
I give my children special slips of paper as a reward for good behavior (a "token economy"). They can collect these slips of paper and use them to "buy" rewards such as toys, treats, or fun ...
4
votes
2answers
166 views
selling non-tznius clothing
Could selling non-tznius clothing in a clothing store be considered mesaye le-dvar aveira?
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
79 views
Selling Chometz to a young gentile
May the sell of chometz be done with a young gentile that in Judaism would be considered a "katan" in terms of halacha and therefore perhaps wouldn't be able to have his buying and selling be "valid" ...
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?
4
votes
1answer
68 views
Mezuzah on rental property
If you own a home that you rent out, are you obligated to place a Mezuzah (or Mezuzoth) on that property?
What if the property is attached to your home, such as a basement apartment or add-on suite?
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
100 views
In auctions today are you still obligated after being out-bid?
A mishna on Erchin 27a discusses buying land back after it has been consecrated. It says that if one offered ten selas, another twenty, etc. up to one who offered fifty, and then that last guy ...
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)?
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Women and arba minim on first day
On the first day there is a din of "lechem" ("to you") that the arba minim must belong to you. Many women will take the arba minim of their father or husband (or brother perhaps) in order to fulfill ...
4
votes
1answer
337 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 ...
4
votes
0answers
56 views
How should parents divide wedding expenses with their child's future in-laws
Today there are many different practices that have been "adopted" (not formally though) among the various Jewish communities on how the parents of an engaged couple divide up the expenses of the ...
