Question Yehudah lives on the top floor of a five-storey apartment building. He is trying to sell his home and Efraim is interested in buying it. However, Efraim notices signs of a water leak from the roof and he makes tarring the roof a precondition for the sale. Yehudah agrees to this condition, has the…
Question Adam is trying to sell his house to Noach. Noach wants to purchase the house, but the two are unable to agree on the price. Adam wants $250,000, while Noach holds that the property is not worth more than $200,000. They agree to call in Lemech, an expert assessor. Whatever value he puts on…
Question Reuven sees his friend, Shimon, about to buy a food mixer in Levi’s Appliances store. He knows that the same model is available at a much cheaper price down the street. Is he permitted to go in and warn Shimon that he is about to waste his money? Would there be any difference if…
Question Shalom deposited a cheque he had received from Micky in his bank account. A few days later, he received a letter from the bank that the cheque had bounced. Not only would Shalom’s account be debited with the amount of the cheque, but he would also have to pay charges for the failed transaction….
Question It was after ma’ariv on Motzo’ei Shabbos. The gabbai looked with exasperation at the piles of seforim all over the shul. How was he going to get them back into their places on the shelves? Then with a sweet he spotted Meir’le, a sweet nine year old tooth! "If you clear up all the…
Question Danny bought a brand-new apartment from a construction company. Soon after he moved in, he discovered major problems (the rain leaks in, if you put on more than three lights at a time, the electricity blows, etc.) He approaches the construction company. They draw his attention to a clause in the contract that reads,…
Question Chayim sees a man attempting to unload a huge wardrobe from a truck, single-handed. As expected, the wardrobe falls! The man asks Chayim to help him to carry this heavy item into the nearby apartment. Is Chayim obligated to do so? Answer "When you see the donkey, etc buckling under its load, etc. you…
Question Raphy collected money to help a sick person who had been told by the doctors that he needed several rare operations. Fortunately, after one operation he recovered completely. Raphy finds himself with a large surplus on his hands. What should he do with the money? Answer The Mishnah in Tractate Shekolim (2:5) informs us:…
Question Zevulun is planning a bus journey to the North. His friend, Asher, intends to accompany him but will board the bus at a later stop. The bus is likely to be full by the time it reaches Asher’s stop. Is it permissible for Zevulun to hold a seat for Asher? Answer Reuven owes money…
Question Yankel bought a beautiful wall clock in a sealed box (the clock face was visible through the plastic wrapping). When he arrived home, he unwrapped the clock and inserted a battery. The clock hands remained still. He checked the battery, which was in perfect working order. He took the clock back to the shop…