Choshen Mishpat Archives - Page 8 of 9

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…

האם יש בעי’ה לשים אוכל תחת מיטה גם כשלא יושנים עליה? ומה הדין לגבי מיטת קומתיים?

שאלה: האם יש בעי'ה להשים דברי אוכל תחת המיטה גם כשלא יושנים עלי'ה? וכן האם יש בעי'ה להשים דברי אוכל במיטת קומתיים מתחת למיטה העליונה ומעל המיטה התחתונה? …

Hashovas Avaidah

Question: My brother works in a store in Crown Heights and found a stroller that was left behind already for three days. He offered it to me and said…

If a business offers a free evaluation, but you know you won’t be able to afford to sign on, is it Gneivas Da’as to take the free evaluation?

When a store or a company offers a free evaluation, one is allowed to take the evaluation, provided they make it absolutely clear from the onset that they have…

I have been fired from my teaching job and the school owes me money. They admit to that. I have access to the place where the school stores some of its belongings, specifically Seforim. Can I take their Seforim and sell them to repay the debt? Can I take the ones that I could use and deduct it from the debt?

You may not take their belongings and sell them to repay the debt. This is considered stealing. Question 2: It seems to say explicitly in Choshen Mishpat that…

Is it permissible to pass by something lying on the ground and, for safety reasons, transgress the Mitzvah of Hashavas Aveida?

I recently came across a blanket on the street. I was afraid to touch it and find its owner being that I was in an unsafe part of the neighborhood,…

Is it permitted to use a competitors URL in google ads (PPC – pay per click), so as to get others searching for the competitor to go to my site?

Note that Google has a specific targeting campaign called "client intent" (or something similar), which is structured specifically to catch the competitor's traffic, and is used by many of the…

I found a $100 bill in the vicinity without any Siman. Can I keep it, and do I need to give Tzedakah from it?

If the money was found in a place that many people pass through and was lying in a way that it appears to have fallen there (as opposed to…

Can I take Tanya Ba’al Peh that was made into a song, from a CD someone made, and record it to my phone and then send it around so others can learn it by heart as a Hachana for Yud Tes Kislev?

The concept of ownership over intellectual property is debated among the Poskim and the general consensus is that when a publisher puts out a new book or invention, he has…

I am working on an article for a publication which involves calling up some people to get their takes on a story…

The publication gave me the contact information and then I called them. My time is not paid for by them, since I am paid only for the published article. There…

May I leave liquid in metal overnight? Does water in an urn need to be switched every day?

The Alter Rebbe in Shulchan Aruch brings down that one should not drink water that was left overnight in metal. This is connected to spiritual "bad spirits" ("רוח רעה").…

Q. I left a open pitcher of orange juice on my table overnight. Can I drink it?

A1. The orange juice is permissible. Q2. So that means that uncovered soup, tomato sauce, drinks like coke or iced tea are all fine? Also, when is Gilui…

Can a Jew pay interest to another Jew when ordered by a court of law?

Question: What happens if somebody buys your (a Jew's) bank note that you owe the bank and that person is a Jew himself (an attorney collection firm). Now he…

If I backed into a non-Jew’s car and made a scratch and I don’t think there is any way he knows who did it, am I obligated to go over and notify him?

Depending on the exact scenario, according to secular law, by not informing the other car, this could possibly be considered a 'hit and run'. Therefore, one should notify the…

If a non-Jewish company has some type of glitch in their system and send me money, can I keep the money or do I need to inform them and return the money? They do not know who I am or that I am Jewish.

You may save the money for yourself, provided it is legal. Here is a brief discussion on the topic: We’ve all heard of cases where airlines accidentally offered flights…

Using Copyrighted Seforim on a Tablet

Question: Some people have on their tablets copyrighted Seforim like Artscroll Shas etc. They get it from Otzar Hachachma. Is it permitted for me to get these Seforim from…