Choshen Mishpat Archives - Page 7 of 8

I am looking into buying a flight to EY and I saw a letter from the Rebbe that if possible one should buy tickets from El Al. Does this apply even if a flight from El Al is a couple hundred more expensive than flying with another airline?

Link to The Rebbe's letter in Likkutei Sichos vol. 22 page 332 Where it is significantly more expensive you do not need to buy from El Al. …

May I split the cost of buying a video with someone and each of us will keep a digital copy?

You may buy the video together, and take turns using it, but you can’t make an additional copy, since it has a copyright. #4167

I was working for a company for over 6 years and built a close relationship with one client I was his exclusive sales rep, they don’t even call the office they call me on my cell, and he only dealt with me. I am now starting to work for a new company. May I contact this customer to come to do business with me at the new company.

One should not actively approach clients from another company’s client base. With non-Jewish client there is room for leniency, although a G-d fearing person would be strict in all…

It is Minhag Haolam, and unfortunately became a custom among Yidden too L’havdil, to make various pranks on the Secular calendar day today, under the name “April Fools”. is there any Heter to do such a thing? Is this clear out Gneivas Daas? an example, people would say something like “guess what? I won a raffle and I’m going to Eretz Yisroel next week. I have one free ticket. do you want to join?”

It is definitely not Mentshlich and not fit for a Yerai Shomayim to engage in such activities. There may be an exception if the intent is just to make…

מישהו הפיל לי את הטלפון, וזה הרס לי את המסך, היה לי את המכשיר 9 וחצי חדשים, איך יצטרך לשלם הנזק? האם את כולו או חלקו?

בכל דיני ממונות, אי אפשר לפסוק כשלא שומעים את הצד השני. ומכל מקום, אכתוב כאן נקודות כלליות: באופן עקרוני, הדין הוא שחייב לשלם את ההפרש בין שווי הטלפון כעת…

A friend, who paid for music files, wants to let me download some tracks on to my MP3 player. Am allowed to do it for a short while, as if I am borrowing them, as long as I do not keep them? Why would it be different than me just borrowing his MP3 player for a short while, to listen to tracks I do not own?

See here. The same would be in the case you described. Just as you cannot "borrow without permission" for a short while and give it back (aka stealing). When…

My work gave me a mobile internet box to use for work if I don’t have internet and need to use my laptop. I had my laptop and internet box at home and my family connected to it and the usage was a lot. My work incurred a couple thousand dollars extra expenses because of this. Am I obligated to pay for it?

It depends on the policy of your workplace. If they gave it to you for work purposes only, then you are obligated to pay the difference. #3103

About 8 years ago I used a friend’s phone without permission

Question: About 8 years ago I used a friend's phone without permission and went on to various websites, not realising it I signed him up to SMS messages from…

May I record phone calls without consent from those with whom I am talking?

Aside from the legal issues which are different from state to state, there are also Halachic issues. See more here. #3052

My friend sold me an iPhone and I opened up the box already and then I changed my mind about buying it. May I still back out of the sale? I already paid him the money.

You may not return it, since you already made a Kinyan, unless the seller agrees. Sources: חושן משפט סימן קפ"ט ועוד

Is there a solution for someone who wants to sell his first house that he bought, considering the Gemara says it is not a good Siman to sell your first property?

If it is a house for living, there is no problem. Some suggest retaining a window or brick in the sale, so it is not a complete sale. …

I am getting up really early in the morning. Sometimes I find the car covered with ice that is required to be removed by scraping off the windows in order to drive safely. This is a noisy project which may wake up sleeping people. Getting a ride is difficult. How should this be dealt with?

You can do it if it is a normal thing, i.e. if that kind of noise is normal where you live. Nonetheless, as a matter of ethical practice, you…

Is it permitted to listen to Music I have received from a friend, he did not pay for it either and we both do not plan on buying that specific album, is it considered stealing even though the artist is not losing out by me obtaining the album for free?

The concept of ownership over intellectual property is debated in the Poskim and the general consensus is that when a publisher or producer puts out a new book or…

If a Jewish contractor is not doing a proper job in construction, am I allowed to Sue him?

Chas vsholom. If you have a claim you must take it first to a Beis din. See here and here about the severe prohibition of suing in secular…

אוכל או משקה שהיה בבטן המטוס בשעת הטיסה, האם יש חשש ברוח רעה כשאנשים ישנו בתוך המטוס?

אין חשש. מטעמי ההיתר: אינו בגדר מטה שמיועד בעיקר לישיבה; השינה בגדר שינת עראי; המטה אינה ראוי׳ לביאה; האוכל אינו על הקרקע (אהל זרוק וכו׳); המקום מלכתחילה מיועד…

There is an expensive item that once it has been shipped, if it is canceled before it reaches the buyer, the store gives a refund, but it does not have to be returned. Knowing this policy, can it be ordered L’chatchila – planning to cancel the order once it is shipped and keeping the item and the refund?

This may not be done. Sources: איסור גניבת דעת קיים גם בגוי, וכיון שודאי אין ברצונו של המוכר שיקנו ממנו ויבקשו החזר, הרי זה גניבת דעת. ראה שו"ע חושן…

יש בעיה הלכתית לצלם דפים (20) לשימוש אישי מספר שהוא מהדורה חדשה לספר קדום (למשל שו”ע)?

כיון שיש בעלות לפי חלק מהפוסקים על יצירה ספרותית וזה כולל גם על העריכה והעיצוב, לזאת אסור לצלם דפים אלו אם זה יגרום הפסד או מניעת ריוח למוציא לאור. …

Can I eat food that was under someone’s seat on a flight and the person slept?

Yes. Sources: מטעמי ההיתר: אינו בגדר מטה שמיועד בעיקר לישיבה; השינה בגדר שינת עראי; המטה אינה ראוי׳ לביאה; האוכל אינו על הקרקע (אהל זרוק וכו׳); המקום מלכתחילה מיועד…

Is it Halachicaly acceptable to inform someone in advance that you will charge them for using an item of yours without permission?

I.e. a book, you never charged others to borrow, but because a person is using it without permission, the owner would like to stop such behavior by setting a…

Are we careful nowadays to not drink water by the Tekufah? If so, when is this time?

There is a Halachah in Shulchan Aruch that one should not drink water B’sha’as Hatekufah (four moments throughout the year, the two equinoxes and the two solstices, which mark when…