11 06, 2023
https://pixabay.com/photos/old-stone-ancient-architecture-3118750/ 9 01, 2023
Employer’s Delayed Payment of Bitcoin to Employee
QUESTION
Philadelphia
Kvod HaRav Linzer:
An Israeli man was hired to do some contract work, and the agreement was that the final month ‘s work would be paid in Bitcoin. The employer never paid that month’s salary, despite the employee repeatedly asking to be repaid. Finally, over 5 years later, the employee received the payment of 3 bitcoins. The sum is worth much more than when it was to be originally paid, but the employee lost the opportunity to potentially sell when the price was much higher. What does the employer owe now as fair recompense? Thank you.
13 07, 2021
Can a Lender Charge the Borrower for the Opportunity Costs of a Loan?
QUESTION
Washington, D.C.
Rabbi Linzer, one person wants to lend a large sum of money (short term loan) to a someone. The lender will withdraw money from an investment account to do this. In order to liquidate the investments, the lender will have a tax penalty and also have opportunity costs because he wont be making money over the course of the short term loan. I assume it is ribit to charge for the opportunity costs. Can the borrower pay the capital gains tax penalties that will result or is this considered ribit as well? Thank you.
ANSWER
1 06, 2021
Is a Kohen Married to a Divorcee Able to Be a Witness?
QUESTION
Washington, D.C.
Rabbi Linzer, I was asked if a kohen married to a גרושה, who is otherwise 100 percent shomer mitzvot, is eligible to be an eid for a wedding? Thank you.
ANSWER
He is pasul mide’orayta. See Shulchan Arukh CM 34:2, which rules that anyone who is liable malkut is pasul for eidut. Rambam (Hilkhot Sanhedrin 19:4, no. 151) explains that a kohen who marries a gerushah is liable malkut. Also see Shulchan Arukh CM 34:23 that rules he is pasul even without a public announcement. Although it sounds like you need eidut to invalidate him, this is a case
14 03, 2021
The Requirement to Construct a Parapet
QUESTION
Washington, D.C.
A congregant is moving into a new house and one of the bedrooms has a door to the roof over an extended sunroom one floor above the ground. The builder told them that they don’t need a parapet, but she’s concerned from a halakhic perspective. Any thoughts on whether they need to build some kind of a safety structure?
ANSWER
Assuming that the roof is flat, accessible, and usable, she definitely needs one. It is a mitzvat aseih de’orayta, and it is a violation of a lo ta’aseih not to have it. From a halakhic perspective, if it is 10 tefachim off
25 12, 2020
Reporting Jewish Businesses for Not Following COVID Protocols
QUESTION
Brooklyn, NY
Can a Jew report a Jewish business to 311 for not following COVID protocols?
ANSWER
I am assuming that the punishment for such violations is some form of fine / closure and not imprisonment. As such, it is by almost all accounts, permissible and does not fall into the category of moser. Added to this, there is an element of kiddush HaShem, given the public reporting of frum Jews violating these protocols – to have a frum Jew take them seriously is quite important.
20 12, 2020
Yerushah and Halakhic Wills
QUESTION
Maryland, USA
Does one have to be worried about halakhic rules of yerushah (boys over girls, פי שנים for the בכור, etc.)? and therefore put all their money in a trust to go into effect a minute before death except a small amount to fulfill halakhic yerushah. Or, can this totally be ignored and fill out your will to have equal parts go to daughters and sons, etc?
ANSWER
Yes, you do need to worry about it. The Rishonim are explicit that dina demalkhuta does not apply
17 12, 2020
Regifting Gifts
QUESTION
New York, NY
בעניין גניבת דעת: is it a problem to give someone a gift that you received from someone else and you don’t want without disclosing that it is a re-gift? I don’t think this is an issue but a congregant said that her Rabbi said that it is.
ANSWER
Well, genveivat da’at is when you do something so someone feels underserved gratitude towards you – like you invite them to a wedding when you know they can’t make it. I assume the pesak here that
5 12, 2020
Lying to Children about Tooth Fairy
QUESTION
Midwest, USA
My daughter just lost her first tooth and I’m wondering if you have any thoughts on telling kids about the Tooth Fairy and whether it’s harmless or if it borders of issues of chukat HaGoyim or Geneivat Da’at.
ANSWER
Interesting… I don’t think it is chukat HaGoyim, unless you think that we have to stop reading stories of Peter Pan and Pinocchio, etc. I guess this is somewhat worse because you are telling her that it is a real thing. I am having a hard
22 11, 2020
Indoor Minyans if Prohibited by the State
QUESTION
Los Angeles, CA
Rabbi Linzer, would you say that states where all indoor gatherings are prohibited, to hold a minyan indoors would violate Dina DeMalkhuta?
My county just issued an order that, “Outdoor gatherings remain the only gatherings permitted, and they must only include 15 people maximum who are members of no more than 3 households.”
My shul only gathers outdoors, distanced, masks, no aliyot etc, but we are about 25 people and 20 different households. Although we are being extremely careful, would this mean that it is now
