STUDENT WORKBOOK. for RIBBIS

Transcription

1 STUDENT WORKBOOK for RIBBIS

2 INTRODUCTION 1 Fill in the speech bubbles and make two scenarios where the characters do not think they are involved in ribbis, but they really are. 2

3 2 One reason why ribbis is a bigger problem today than ever before is because in the past if a person wanted to pay in installments they had to... 3 Ribbis is such a widespread problem that according to ribbis experts... percent of contracts contain clauses that will violate the halachos of ribbis. 43 What is one reason many people think that ribbis does not apply today? WHAT IS RIBBIS 1 Which of the following situations will involve ribbis? Check all that apply: A one time loan for $20 on condition that $25 is paid back. Paying back over time with a little extra each month. Borrowing a can of Coke and paying back a can of Sprite. Borrowing a started bag of chips and returning a full bag. 3

4 2 The general rule regarding ribbis is: if I borrow something, I may not... 3 When opening a new restaurant, Reuven needed to borrow money. Realizing that the only opportunity he had was to borrow and pay interest on the loan, Reuven was happy to pay it and thought that this was permissible. Was he correct? Explain your answer. 4 Dovid was so happy that Shimon lent him money that when he returned it, he gave back a little extra for Shimon s trouble. Is this permissible? Explain your answer. 5 Just as a person would not ask someone for payment before he saved his life, so too A person is not allowed to ask a fellow Jew for a large amount of payment for lending money, but a small token amount will be permissible. A person will not ask a fellow Jew for payment to help him monetarily with a loan. 4

5 6 When speaking about the mitzvah of ribbis, why does the Torah repeatedly use the words your brother? 7 Judaism s way of looking at the world is that Hashem gave us our money and assets to What does the Torah say will happen to someone who lends money with ribbis? FIVE FORMS OF RIBBIS 1 Explain the term ribbis ketzutzah: 5

6 2 Avi lent Yoni $100 on condition that he pays back $110. This is forbidden Through Jewish custom. Rabbinically. From the Torah. 3 Avi lent Yoni $100. At the time the loan was due, Avi demanded an extra $10. This is forbidden Through Jewish custom. Rabbinically. From the Torah. 4 Another example of ribbis is when Avi lent Yoni $100 and when Yoni paid it back he gave an extra $10. This is forbidden Through Jewish custom. Rabbinically. From the Torah. DEBT CREATED BY A SALE 5 Dovid wanted to buy a $100 item and does not have the money now. The salesman let Dovid take it home on condition that he pays $110 for the item next week. This is forbidden Through Jewish custom. Rabbinically. From the Torah. 6

7 16 The above case is ribbis, even though there was never a loan, because as soon as the sale was made a... was... for the purchase. 17 Rachel is selling a cell phone. She wants $300 if she is paid in full right now. If the payments will stretch out, she wants three monthly payments of $110 for a total $330. Miriam does not have the money to pay the full price right now so she would gladly pay the three installments of $110. Is this permissible? Explain your answer: 18 Is Zehava allowed to buy Rachel s cell phone for the full, lower price? 19 When buying an item or property that might have one price for paying within a very short time, and another, higher price, for a longer payment schedule, what should a person be careful to ask before giving a price? 7

8 10 DEBT CREATED BY A RENTAL Ariel s boss told him that he didn t have the money to pay him this week, but would give him an extra $100 next week. This is forbidden Through Jewish custom. Rabbinically. From the Torah. DEBT CREATED BY A GIFT 11 Zaidy Moish wanted give his favorite grandson a nice wedding present, and told him to rent a nice apartment, and that he would cover the rent. The only problem was that on the third month, he didn t have the money to pay, and told his grandson that because he had to wait, he would give him a larger sum. Why is this ribbis? DEBT CREATED BY A GUARANTOR 12 What is a guarantor? 13 Give a situation where a guarantor can violate ribbis: 8

9 114 Avi wants to buy something with Yoni s credit card and he will make the payments.this is ribbis because A Yoni owes the money to the bank plus the interest which is a fee. Therefore, when Avi pays Yoni the interest he is only paying the fee that he caused Avi to owe. A Yoni owes the money to the bank and Avi owes Yoni. Therefore, when Avi pays Yoni for the interest that is owed to the bank, he is really paying Yoni s interest. Anytime you are late with payments to a bank and have to pay interest it is ribbis. RIBBIS WITH OBJECTS 1 Explain why returning a full bottle, when you only borrowed half a bottle, is ribbis: 2 Why is it not ribbis to pay money to a rental car company for use of their car? 9

10 MORE VALUE 3 Devora borrowed a generic bottle of dish soap and returned a brand name bottle. Is this ribbis? Explain your answer: MORE VOLUME 4 Chaim borrowed half a bottle of soda. Is he allowed to return a full bottle? Explain your answer: 5 If Chaim has only a full bottle, what should he do? 6 If Chaim were to return a little bit more than he borrowed, what would be the halacha? 7 If Chaim were to return less than he borrowed, what would be the halacha? 10

11 18 Avigayil borrowed three eggs from her neighbor. Is she allowed to return four? 19 If Avigayil could not remember exactly how many eggs she borrowed; three or four, would she be allowed to return four? 10 1 What is the difference between the two cases? BETTER QUALITY 11 1 Rachel borrowed a regular Bic pen from Yael and wants to return a fancier gel pen. Is this ribbis? Explain your answer: 12 1 What would be the halacha if the gel pen was the only pen that Rachel had and it would be inconvenient to go out and buy a Bic pen? 11

12 MORE EXPENSIVE PLACE 13 Avi borrowed a can of soda from Yoni. A few days later they went to a pizza shop and Avi wanted to pay back his loan by buying a soda at the pizza shop. Is this ribbis? Explain your answer: 14 What would be the halacha if Avi only bought the soda in the pizza shop for convenience? RIBBIS WITH WORDS 1 A first grade girl was so happy that her friend lent her a bag of Bissli, that she drew the lender a picture. Why is this ribbis? 2 List three benefits that the borrower can give the lender that will be ribbis: 12

13 13 List three types of ribbis devarim or ribbis with words: "The general rule with ribbis devarim is " The borrower may not speak to the lender during the terms of the loan. Anything the borrower would have done anyway before the loan - even without the loan having taken place - he can continue to do so afterwards. 15 Even though thanking the lender for a loan is a matter of dispute, everyone agrees that you may Thank the person for his time or effort. Buy them dinner. ignore the lender. 13

14 TO WHOM DOES RIBBIS APPLY 1 The prohibition of ribbis applies not just to the lender and borrower, but to any person involved in the loan. Check the people that it would apply to. The person who sticks up the posters. The advertising agency that publicizes the offer. The secretary that prints out the paper or gets the parties to sign. The bank teller that deposits the interest check. The guarantor who guarantees the loan will be paid. The witnesses who witness the loan. The janitor that cleans the lawyer s office. The agent who makes the deal. The taxi-cab driver that brings the lender to the closing. The lawyer that draws up the contract. The graphic artist who designs the ad. 2 Lawyers really need to be careful with the laws of ribbis as A person may not help another sin and any contract that has a clause about late payment or the amount indexed to inflation, as most contracts do, will violate the laws of ribbis and cause the parties to sin. The government has been cracking down on lawyers who misrepresent clients. There is a special halacha that you are not allowed to write up a contract containing ribbis and the lawyer will violate that. 14

15 NOTES

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