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Case: The plaintiff (=pl) and the defendant (=def) both wanted to extend their apartments, which were one on top of the other, and decided to do so cooperatively, sharing an architect (=a#1) and preparing and paying for the various elements of obtaining a municipal building permit. In the midst of the process, pl convinced def to discard a#1’s plans and hire a new architect (=a#2). Pl decided to extend his addition with a balcony. Later in the process, def became concerned that this would compromise his apartment’s privacy. When the two sides failed to agree on how to solve the privacy problem, def appealed to the municipality to disallow the extension. Pl is suing def for the expenses, over 24,000 shekels, which are now wasted (both architects’ plans and fees for various stages of applying for a building permit).
Ruling: [Last time, we saw that pl cannot claim payment due to their being partners.]
P'ninat Mishpat (835)
Various Rabbis
401 - Backing Out of Joint Building Plans – part I
402 - Backing Out of Joint Building Plans – part II
403 - Who Is Responsible for Municipal Tax When? – part I
Load More
The Maggid Mishneh answers for the Rambam with the following distinction. The gemara exempts when the buyer invested in order to profit, whereas the Rambam obligates when the chatan acted to conform with local expectations based on the kalla’s assurance. The Taz distinguishes based on the timing of the damage. The gemara exempts because the damage is realized after the planting, whereas the Rambam obligates when the loss is directly when the kalla backs out. The Shulchan Aruch (Even Haezer 50:3) rules like the Rambam, and we accept the Maggid Mishneh’s approach to it. Thus, in our case, since pl acted in order to benefit, he is not entitled to compensation from def.
There are additional reasons to exempt def. In classic cases of histamchut, the assurance made (e.g., the kalla will go through with the marriage) is a clear one. There is a machloket whether the obligation in the Rambam’s case applies only to betrothal or even to shidduchin (equivalent to our engagement), where the level of commitment is lower (depending on the existence of penalties for backing out). In this case, neither side gave a full assurance they would follow a given plan to the end. In fact, even pl refused to continue with the plans, as presented by a#1, in which they invested money.
Finally, in a case where the one backing out has strong justification for doing so, there should be no payment. The Rambam refers to a case where the chatan has something objectively wrong that is grounds to not marry him (see Divrei Malkiel V:125). In our case, the complaints about privacy, which pl did not agree to take seriously, are further grounds not to obligate def.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: A Contractor’s Leaving the Job in the Middle – part III
based on ruling 84013 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Undoing a Problematic Partnership – part III
based on ruling 84061 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Multiple Agreements and Parties – part II
based on ruling 80082 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Problematic Lights?
based on appeal of ruling 84085 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Various Events FOR WHOM NOT TO VOTE
Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook stressed that Israeli politics is G-dly, so I have no problem answering this common question on a Torani blog. Also, Free-Will is a G-d-given right and obligation, to "destine one's fate" (R. Soloveichik, Kol Dodi Dofek, 67), so I obviously don't tell others how to vote. But once not a few (especially young) have already asked, a couple of personal words from experience and thoughts from chazal & Rav Kook which may be of help to others, mainly for whom NOT to vote.
P'ninat Mishpat Fallout from Failure to Install Elevator – part II
based on ruling 85007 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
