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- Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Requested Follow-up Information: The problems are within the norm. The owners did not take steps to hide them.
Answer:It is hard to say that is categorically forbidden by the laws of lashon hara to inform the buyers of the problem. The Chafetz Chayim (II:9:1) says that one should tell someone who is about to enter a business relationship of definite loss he is expected to incur as a result, under the following conditions: he considered the resulting damage carefully; he does not exaggerate the problem’s extent; his intentions are noble and not out of dislike for the subject of his criticism; there is no other way to get the same result; the subject of his criticism will not be unduly harmed. The Chafetz Chayim proves that one is obligated to inform the person who stands to lose because of the mitzva to not stand idly by as someone is in danger, which applies not just to danger to life but also to monetary danger.
However, based on your description, it seems that you should not tell. First, buying an apartment with a normal amount of mold does not constitute a loss of money, as many people would buy such an apartment in any case. Perhaps it should justify a reduction in price. However, considering that there is not one exact price for a house, it is not clear that such a problem would make the price inappropriate. A person who does not do a thorough check of the apartment should assume it is not perfect.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (654)
Various Rabbis
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50 - Disclosing Problems of Another’s Apartment
51 - Beracha on Homeopathic Medicine
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One who is asked by both sides to give an appraisal, should do so honestly (ibid.). Therefore, the buyer can ask permission of the seller to ask you about the apartment. In that case, giving the impression that it is better than it is would be a violation of lifnei iver (not misleading someone).
If a buyer asks someone without the owner’s permission, he may tell the truth in a case where his answer impacts on an object’s price, as we see in the following Talmudic precedents. If someone overpaid for an object, he can take action only for the amount of time it takes to go to an appraiser to check its price (Bava Metzia 49b). We do not consider that the appraiser will refuse to tell him the truth due to lashon hara. Another source deals with neighbors with inside information. If a woman with physical blemishes marries and her husband wants to void the marriage due to misrepresentation of her status, he may not make such a claim if they live in a place with public bathhouses because we assume he checked out her condition through female relatives (Ketubot 75b). The Rambam (Ishut 25:3) cites two opinions regarding a case where the groom does not have relatives in town, whether we expect him to ask friends to ask their wives. Halacha does not assume that people should hold back the information.
As stated above, though, one does not need to do the work for the buyer, unless he thinks the buyer cannot find out for himself. We have seen that if there is an extreme problem one would not know to ask about, an individual should to step forward. Even so, the act of tattle-telling is so frowned upon that it should be avoided when there are alternatives. For example, when Yehoshua asked Hashem who was responsible for the defeat at the Ay, Hashem told Yehoshua that He is not a tattle-tale, and Yehoshua should cast lots to determine (Sanhedrin 11a). Therefore, when there is no great need to save someone from a deep, dark secret (as explained above), it is improper to volunteer information that paints an acquaintance or his merchandise in a negative light.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
