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Case: In our community (the rabbi is asking), the minhag has been to have appraisers (who determine the amount that members of the community must give towards taxes, communal expenses, and/or charity) do the appraisal of everyone in the community, including their relatives. This is especially necessary because most of the people in the community have relatives within it. There was a meeting recently to choose new appraisers, and people agreed to the old system, but once the identity of the appraisers was determined based on lots, some people complained about the system. Do they have a right to do so?
Ruling: Even if there were not an established minhag to have appraisers of this type, since people were present when the decision was taken, they cannot back out. This is true even if no act of kinyanwas done to finalize the agreement because something that was done in the presence of the seven lay leaders of the city is binding even without a kinyan.
P'ninat Mishpat (829)
Various Rabbis
377 - Offsetting Obligations of a Deceased
378 - Appraising Relatives
379 - Counting to Four Generations
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In this case, the one complaining wants that the appraisers should be permitted to appraise only people who are not related to them. They should realize that this idea will not solve the problem anyway, as in matters of apportioning responsibility, all members of the community have an interest in the decisions. After all, if one raises the demands on people who are not their relatives, it makes it possible to take less money from one’s relatives and oneself. If one wants to totally reject theminhag and have appraisers who conform to the normal halachic requirements of impartiality, then it would only be possible to have people from outside the city with no relatives in the city do it. However, this is impossible to arrange for all intents and purposes.
It is true that the more common minhag is indeed that the appraisers appraise only those who are not related to them. However, that is not the halacha but based on minhag. When the minhag is different, as in your community, an individual has no right to complain about it.
Please realize that I usually do not state my opinion on matters affecting other communities and am doing so only because you are here to ask me several questions, and I promised you that I would answer what I can. Also be aware that if the government has any qualms with the system that is being employed, you must follow what they say. I just give permission to show my letter to the government and the likelihood is that they will agree that you follow what the Torah has to say on the matter.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: A Seller with Questionable Rights to the Property – part I
based on ruling 84062 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Return of Down Payment Due to War – part I
based on ruling 84044 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
