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Case: [There was common function of the Jewish community to collect "taxes" both for paying the government as a group and for the needs of the community, including supporting the poor. While there are some halachic guidelines, each community had its own ways of dealing with the task of assessing and collecting these dues.] When Reuven, who was known to be a rich man, died, 400 gold coins were taken for taxes from his estate, as per the last assessment when he was alive. Reuven’s son-in-law claims that he left only 4,000 coins, so the assessment is too high. Should the assessment be lowered?
Ruling: There are two basic approaches to assessments. The early Sephardim allowed the people in charge to come up with an assessment, without trusting the citizens. Their reasoning was that the government bases their taxes on their assumption of Jewish wealth (they usually exaggerate). Therefore the Jewish collectors, who in effect carry out the king’s word, can follow his system of assessment. The Rosh says that accordingly, the assessment is binding even if it is mistakenly low.
P'ninat Mishpat (829)
Various Rabbis
349 - What to Do with Abandoned Jewelry
350 - Changing a Community Tax Assessment
351 - A Partner in Crime’s Part in Returning Stolen Property
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The minhag of communities, accepted by Acharonim, is that if one’s assessment is supposed to stand for a certain number of years, then the assessed tax does not change even if he became poorer or richer since his oath. (In a minority of communities, including Frankfurt, assessments change during their term in the case of a clear and very significant change in financial status.) If one swore that he has much less money than we now find in his possession, there is discussion whether we accept the possibility that he found a large sum of money or otherwise became suddenly enriched after the assessment (there is a slight contradiction within Chavot Yair (57-8)). In any case, after he has died, we do not extract money from the inheritors despite the likelihood that his reporting of his wealth was a lie.
In the case before us, the local practice was set that when one dies, the amount of four years’ of taxes are taken from the estate, and one must not complain about this practice. Soon before his death, Reuven wrote a will that identified wealth of 12,000 coins, which is much more than he reported previously. We will make a claim on behalf of the inheritors that Reuven earned a lot of money between the assessment and the will and we will not penalize retroactively the estate for withholding tax. However, we will obligate the estate for the correct assessment from the time of the will. Although he could have sworn that he made the money after the assessment and the assessment does not change during its duration, since he did not swear, we assume, in regard to the future, what we know – that he did have more money. It would be a good idea to compromise on the matter. The inheritors claim that they found only 4,000 gold coins. They are required to swear about that, although a publicly accepted cheremshould be enough.
Although some want to forgive the money, realize that that is at the expense of many impoverished people. Still, if a majority want to forgive some money, it is possible to do so. A minority who want to forgive certainly should not cast aspersions on the majority that want full payment.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: A Contractor’s Leaving the Job in the Middle – part II
based on ruling 84013 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Return of Down Payment Due to War – part II
based on ruling 84044 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Late and Flawed Apartment
based on ruling 82174 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
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
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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.
