- Family and Society
- Renting, Buying & Selling
Engagement Ring (Material vs Commitment)
Question
Regarding two questions related to the same issue.
I bought and presented my Fiance with an engagement ring of her choosing. I asked for two conditions in return for my gift of commitment: 1. That she understand this ring means a serious commitment to me and should she change her mind prior to wedding me, the ring would be returned to me like a breech of contract. 2. I requested that in the event of her death one day that my biological daughter be the Heir of her ring as she has 3 children of her own to will the rest of her possessions and jewelry to. It would be have represented a sign of excepting my daughter by her into our blended family.
Now that she has changed her plans for our marriage I requested back the ring and she complied. She resents having to give back what she claims is her rightful gift, despite our agreement from the start. I insisted from the first that this ring means a lot to me, it is not meant as a friendship ring but as a sign of a lifelong commitment. Am I wrong to withdraw my gift and also to have asked for her to pass the ring down to my child?
Answer
It is possible to give a conditional gift that returns to the giver of the gift if the condition was not met. Whether or not the condition you set upon your gift of the ring met the halachic requrements to make such a condition binding is irrelevant since your former fiancee complied with your request and returned the ring.
Short term rental agent
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tammuz 18, 5779

Rabbi Jonathan Blass
Rabbi of Neve Tzuf and Rosh Kollel "Ratzon Yehuda".

Yizkor for a Ger
23 Tishrei 5763

Calling In-Laws Name
16 Tishrei 5763

End of Shabbat
5 Cheshvan 5763

Tzitzit for women
23 Tishrei 5763

Eating in Shiurim
Rabbi David Sperling | Tishrei 7, 5775

On which day may one start wishing "Shabbat Shalom"?
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 9, 5780
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

What Can I Learn on Tisha BAv?
Various Rabbis | Av 2, 5781

Conversion
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tammuz 29, 5782

Alarm Cock on the Three Weeks
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 4, 5782

Rashi
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tammuz 27, 5782
