P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor Fee Despite the Buyer’s Refusal?

based on ruling 83117 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts

based on ruling 83117 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts

Stopping a Charitable Hora’at Keva

The Shabby Cabby

Mrs. Gartenhaus borrowed 100 NIS from Mrs. Horowitz but the cab driver says he only received 20 NIS. How much does Mrs. G owe Mrs. H?

Returning to a Gemach Newer Medicines than One Received

I used a local medicine gemach, which prefers receiving replacement medicine but also allows giving back with money. The pills they gave me were slightly past expiration. Isn’t it ribbit to give back either (new) pills or their monetary value, considering that expired medicine is worth less than normal?

The Talis Exchange and Other Lost Stories

Borrowing without the owner’s knowledge is usually halachically equivalent to stealing! In general, one may not use an item until one receives permission from the owner.

Q&A: Do Hareidim and Religious-Zionists Observe Mitzvot Differently?

Do the hareidi public and religious-Zionist public truly observe the mitzvot differently, or is the perceived difference merely because of their differences regarding the State of Israel?

The Fateful U-Turn

A car crash occurred between Reuven and Shimon. So who is responsible?

Secret Numbers

In our cashless credit card world, we have all been introduced to the concept and necessity for secret numbers. This presents a challenge, because it is not easy to remember different numbers, especially numbers that you do not use every day.

Baffled Raffle

Yossi Swapped his raffle ticket with Shimmy's and Shimmy won the first prize. who owns that prize?

A Human Justice System

One of the basic lessons learned from Parashat Yitro is that there is no perfect system of justice if it involves human beings and judges.

Carpet Diem

Pressuring a Store to Take Back Purchase

I bought something in a store and wanted to return it. The customer service person was reluctant to take it back, but I was persistent and she eventually agreed to it. Was it permitted for me to handle it as I did, or did I violate lo tachmod (I heard in a shiur that you can violate this when pressuring a store to give a refund)?

Rescued from the Ashes

At the Shabbat Table

At the Shabbat Table

Backing Out of an Oral Offer to a Potential Worker

I needed work done on my house – only part of the job acutely. I contacted Reuven, who came recommended; he quoted a high price. Because of the acute need, I agreed without shopping around. When he said he could only come a week later, I found Shimon to do the first part of the job. (It is not clear to me if Reuven now expects to do the rest of the job.). Shimon told me that Reuven charged much too much and offered to do the remaining part for half of Reuven’s quote. Do I have a halachic or moral obligation to use Reuven?

Meating Halfway

At the Shabbat Table

At the Shabbat Table

When Push Came to Shove

At the Shabbat Table

At the Shabbat Table

How to Determine when Paying on Time Is

I live in New York, but often people in Israel do work for me, which they send me via computer. How do I calculate my deadline to pay them and fulfill the mitzva to pay on time – based on my time-zone or my workers’?

Low Appeal

At the Shabbat Table

At the Shabbat Table

An Oily Start

At the Shabbat Table

At the Shabbat Table

Shady Business

At the Shabbat Table

Two Indians fought over the shade of the donkey. How does that have to do with a tourist who took a picture of Rav Kook?