YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Lech Lecha
- Family and Society
- Financial Laws and Tzedaka
- Basics of Financial Laws
Beverage Leverage
(From the book Derech Chevron, part 1, siman 72)
What a simcha! Shmuel, the Levi’s youngest son, was finally getting married! Friends and family of the young couple vied for the opportunity to host sheva brachot events in celebration of the marriage.
Shmuel’s sister, Dina, and brother-in-law, Yehuda, hosted the Tuesday night meal. Dina did the bulk of the cooking, but, naturally, numerous sisters and sisters-in-law helped out, each bringing a dish or two, to add to the festivities. For his part, Yehuda made sure to have a lot of soda and juice on hand, for the benefit of the thirsty guests.
Tuesday night arrived, and family and friends eagerly crowded into Yehuda and Dina’s living room, and seated themselves in front of the elegantly arranged disposable dishes. The mood was light and festive.
As David, one of the guests, took a can of coke for himself, he noticed that the can advertised the opportunity to win a car. Following the instructions on the can, David peeled off a sticker which had been stuck on the side. To his amazement, the back of the sticker read "CONGRATULATIONS! We at Coca Cola Co. are happy to tell you, that you’ve won a brand new Chevrolet! In order to claim your prize, bring this coupon and a means of identification to one of our offices."
"I won! I won!" David shouted.
The guests all looked up to see what the commotion was about. "I won a car! I took a can of coke, and I peeled off the sticker, and it says that I won a car!" David exclaimed.
"Wait a second!" Noam, one of the chatan’s brothers, shouted. "Doesn’t the car belong to Yehuda? After all, he’s the one who bought the soda!"
Who is correct? Does the car belong to David, the guest, or Yehuda, the host?
Answer:
Rabbi Dov Lior, shlita:
The Rama rules (Choshen Mishpat siman 132) that if a person buys a metal implement from a middleman, and then finds that the implement contains silver, the middleman is not entitled to keep the silver. This is because a person does not acquire something, even if it is in his hand or his domain, if the person does not have awareness of the presence of the object, and it is not likely that the object will be found. (This ruling is based on Tosafot on Bava Metzia 26a.)
According to this, it would seem that Yehuda is not entitled to the car, because, when the can of coke was in his possession, he had no knowledge that it had the winning coupon. However, upon closer examination, it is clear the cases are not exactly parallel. In our case, the soda company advertised that purchasers had the chance to win a car. Presumably, when Yehuda bought the soda, he had the knowledge that there was a chance that he might be purchasing the winning can, despite the fact that the chance of winning is extremely remote. Based on this line of reasoning, the winning coupon does belong to Yehuda.
Another reason to suggest that David, and not Yehuda, owns the car, is that Yehuda, as the host, gave over ownership of the food to his guests (See Rama on Even Ha’ezer, siman 28, se’if 17) (In truth, this ruling of the Rama is not straightforward. (See se’if 16) According to the Aruch Hashulchan, this ruling is limited to situations in which the guest performs an act which causes him to formally acquire the food.)
This would seem to make David the owner of the winning coupon. However, this is not the case, because Yehuda gave ownership of the food to the guests. There is no reason to extend this ruling to things which accompany the food. He gave the soda to the guests, but never gave them ownership of the labels attached to the cans.
In summary: The car belongs to Yehuda, the host.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.