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We have seen a property in an prominently Jewish area. It is owned by a Jewish lady whose husband committed suicide almost 8 years ago by overdosing with sleeping pills. We are not Jewish and the house looks good in terms of location. But if we will be reselling it after some years, will this information affect Jewish people's decision on whether to buy it?

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    Is there a reason why you think this might affect Jews' decision to buy the house?
    – Daniel
    Feb 19, 2013 at 17:45
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    Generally, though suicide is not technically permitted in Judaism, we assume that the person was not in his or her right mind when committing suicide, thereby excusing the act.
    – Daniel
    Feb 19, 2013 at 17:47
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    What I meant is, what makes you think that this will have a particular effect on the person <i>because</i> he is Jewish?
    – Daniel
    Feb 19, 2013 at 17:56
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    @Daniel Because the OP doesn't know much about Jews except that they have a lot of particular rules.
    – Double AA ♦
    Feb 19, 2013 at 18:27
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    Yes, my knowledge of Judaism is limited as Double AA mentioned. Some cultures/ religions believe in energy/ spirits and consider incidents similar to these as ominous.
    – user1286399
    Feb 19, 2013 at 18:56

1 Answer 1

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There are Jewish communities which have the custom that if a tragedy happened in a home, the current owners will move out.

This is based on the Rabbinic expression "one who changes his location changes his luck".

However, there is no reason for somebody else not to move into such a home. In Jerusalem - and other predominantly Jewish areas - such homes are occasionally put up for sale and do not stay long on the market.

Even if somebody would have a custom not to move into such a home, if it were owned by somebody else since the tragedy then it would be considered "safe", as they are not buying it from anybody related to the tragedy.

That said, you will always find people who are very superstitious and will refuse to even walk near such a home. This has no basis in Judaism, as far as I know.

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    There seems to be a minhag with a newly built house that goyim should first live there.
    – preferred
    May 13, 2014 at 11:30
  • @preferred - that's amazing, especially when considering that there's an issue letting non-Jews live in a Jewish neighbourhood; as we see when learning about Eiruv-Chatzeirot. (I also wonder how they kept that Minhag in the ghettos...)
    – Danny Schoemann
    May 13, 2014 at 12:18

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