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Taking Interest: Difference between revisions
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===Stocks=== | ===Stocks=== | ||
#It is permitted to buy stocks and it isn't considered ribbit since it is an investment.<ref>Malveh Hashem 2:13:29 p. 169 writes that buying a stock is an investment in the company and has risk. Therefore, there is no question of interest. Marechet Hashulchan Ribbit p. 417 | #It is permitted to buy stocks and it isn't considered ribbit since it is an investment.<ref>Malveh Hashem 2:13:29 p. 169 writes that buying a stock is an investment in the company and has risk. Therefore, there is no question of interest. Marechet Hashulchan Ribbit p. 417, Mishna Halachot 5:116, and Mishpatei Ribbit v. 2 p. 356 citing Brit Yehuda 2:42 agree.</ref> | ||
# Short selling is a violation of borrowing commodities with interest. This type of transaction between two Jews is forbidden since the leniencies of borrowing commodities, namely, having a fixed market price that endures for a long time or having a position in that the stock one is short selling, are inapplicable.<ref>[https://traditiononline.org/short-selling-and-jewish-law/ Rav Aharon Levine (Tradition Spring 2010 pp. 67-71)] explains that short selling involves borrowing a commodity which is repaid with that commodity and not merely a cash loan. The commodities in this case are the stocks being sold short. Since the marketplace price is in flux constantly that doesn't permit the seah b'seah transaction. Additionally, the fact that selling outside the box is illegal prevents a person from shorting a position he already owns stock in. Therefore, it isn't possible for someone to have the stocks that he is borrowing while doing a short sell.</ref> For a Jewish marketplace this is a serious issue because either way there is an interest charge for borrowing the stocks for the time. Therefore, these issues need to be solved with a heter iska.<ref> [https://www.toraland.org.il/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%A4%D7%98/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%94/%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%97%D7%A1%D7%A8/ toraland.org.il] | # Short selling is a violation of borrowing commodities with interest. This type of transaction between two Jews is forbidden since the leniencies of borrowing commodities, namely, having a fixed market price that endures for a long time or having a position in that the stock one is short selling, are inapplicable.<ref>[https://traditiononline.org/short-selling-and-jewish-law/ Rav Aharon Levine (Tradition Spring 2010 pp. 67-71)] explains that short selling involves borrowing a commodity which is repaid with that commodity and not merely a cash loan. The commodities in this case are the stocks being sold short. Since the marketplace price is in flux constantly that doesn't permit the seah b'seah transaction. Additionally, the fact that selling outside the box is illegal prevents a person from shorting a position he already owns stock in. Therefore, it isn't possible for someone to have the stocks that he is borrowing while doing a short sell.</ref> For a Jewish marketplace this is a serious issue because either way there is an interest charge for borrowing the stocks for the time. Therefore, these issues need to be solved with a heter iska.<ref> Torat Ribbit 17:33 agrees that short selling is considered seah bseah and therefore forbidden. Additionally, he adds that the seller can’t return the dividends. If the stock price drops after the dividend its price reflects that then it is a shutfut and the seller who borrowed the stocks is entitled to them and returning them would be interest. A specific heter iska can be used. [https://www.toraland.org.il/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%A4%D7%98/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%94/%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%97%D7%A1%D7%A8/ toraland.org.il] agrees.</ref> | ||
# Buying stocks on margin is forbidden if the brokerage is Jewish since it is lending to the investor money to be able to buy the shares and charging them interest for that loan. This is Biblical interest, but it can be permitted with a heter iska.<ref>Laws of Interest 1:25, Mishnat Ribbit p. 62</ref> A regular heter iska doesn't work for this case.<ref>Mishnat Ribbit p. 62</ref> | # Buying stocks on margin is forbidden if the brokerage is Jewish since it is lending to the investor money to be able to buy the shares and charging them interest for that loan. This is Biblical interest, but it can be permitted with a heter iska.<ref>Laws of Interest 1:25, Mishnat Ribbit p. 62, Mishna Halachot 5:116</ref> A regular heter iska doesn't work for this case.<ref>Mishnat Ribbit p. 62</ref> | ||
# Buying a future contract of stocks doesn't involve interest.<ref>Ribbit Btachnit Chischon Lkol Yeled p. 33 writes that there's no ribbit with future contracts since there is no sale of the stocks until the settlement date at which point the money is paid and the stocks or the equivalent are exchanged. Therefore, he argues that it isn't similar to pesika (buying commodities at a future date). Even though there is a down payment made it is merely a security deposit and not a loan. He cites this from the Mishpat Shalom CM 209.</ref> | |||
# If a person leaves money in a Jewish investment account and it accrues interest leaving money there is forbidden since that would be Biblical interest. However, this transaction can be permitted with a heter iska.<ref>Laws of Interest 1:24, Mishnat Ribbit p. 62</ref> Some poskim would permit collecting interest if the brokerage firm is incorporated.<ref>Laws of Interest 1:24 based on Rav Moshe (Igrot Moshe 2:63)</ref> | # If a person leaves money in a Jewish investment account and it accrues interest leaving money there is forbidden since that would be Biblical interest. However, this transaction can be permitted with a heter iska.<ref>Laws of Interest 1:24, Mishnat Ribbit p. 62</ref> Some poskim would permit collecting interest if the brokerage firm is incorporated.<ref>Laws of Interest 1:24 based on Rav Moshe (Igrot Moshe 2:63)</ref> | ||
# Buying and selling options is permitted.<ref>Torat Ribbit 17:36 permits buying and selling options since they can go up or down. If you buy from the open market certainly it is a sale and even if you do it with your broker it is still like a sale and not like an advanced cash payment to get a cheaper deal later. Takanat Haribit p. 47 also permits and thinks it isn't asmachta since it is legally binding. Seder Haribit v. 1 p. 289 writes that buying options is permitted since it is a sale. It isn't like pesika al peirot since you don't necessarily get the fruit you're just buying the right to get them. This is explained by [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/946426/rabbi-ike-sultan/ribbit-investing-in-bonds,-stocks,-short-selling,-naked-shorts,-buying-on-margin,-buying-futures,-options,-money-market-funds-as-they-relate-to-interest/ Rabbi Sultan (Investing in Bonds, Stocks, Short Selling, Buying Futures, Options)].</ref> | |||
===Lending Commodities as Part of a Work Contract=== | ===Lending Commodities as Part of a Work Contract=== | ||
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# It is forbidden to lend money in order to get less than a prutah more than he lent.<ref>Tosfot Bava Metsia 61a s.v. im writes that based on a klal uprat it is possible to deduce that less than a prutah is excluded from ribbit. Rosh agrees. However, The Tur 161:1 cites the Ramah who disagrees. See Ritva 61a fnt. 35 who points out that the Ramah cited by Shitah Mikubeset 61a seems not be discussing this idea. Shulchan Aruch 161:1 follows the Ramah. See fnt. to Ritva who cites the Gedulei Trumah 46:1:1 who explained that the only dispute is whether a person can lend less than a prutah to receive interest but the Mishneh Lmelech Hilchot Malveh Vloveh 6:1 disagrees and says that it is a dispute where the loan is greater than a prutah to gain interest that is less than a prutah. Rav Elyashiv on Bava Metsia 61a s.v. sham btosfot comments that the Gra explains the Ramah who says that it is forbidden to take less than a prutah because a half shiur of something prohibited is also prohibited. Rav Elyashiv questions this because perhaps taking less than a prutah in one loan can’t possibly combine with another less than a prutah unless it would be another loan. </ref> | # It is forbidden to lend money in order to get less than a prutah more than he lent.<ref>Tosfot Bava Metsia 61a s.v. im writes that based on a klal uprat it is possible to deduce that less than a prutah is excluded from ribbit. Rosh agrees. However, The Tur 161:1 cites the Ramah who disagrees. See Ritva 61a fnt. 35 who points out that the Ramah cited by Shitah Mikubeset 61a seems not be discussing this idea. Shulchan Aruch 161:1 follows the Ramah. See fnt. to Ritva who cites the Gedulei Trumah 46:1:1 who explained that the only dispute is whether a person can lend less than a prutah to receive interest but the Mishneh Lmelech Hilchot Malveh Vloveh 6:1 disagrees and says that it is a dispute where the loan is greater than a prutah to gain interest that is less than a prutah. Rav Elyashiv on Bava Metsia 61a s.v. sham btosfot comments that the Gra explains the Ramah who says that it is forbidden to take less than a prutah because a half shiur of something prohibited is also prohibited. Rav Elyashiv questions this because perhaps taking less than a prutah in one loan can’t possibly combine with another less than a prutah unless it would be another loan. </ref> | ||
# There is no time limit to be considered a loan, even a loan for a moment is a loan and is subject to interest.<ref>Laws of Ribbit p. 116 citing Brit Yehuda 2:3</ref> | # There is no time limit to be considered a loan, even a loan for a moment is a loan and is subject to interest.<ref>Laws of Ribbit p. 116 citing Brit Yehuda 2:3</ref> | ||
# It is questionable if it is permitted to borrow something and return back a tiny bit extra. For example, if you split a cab and one person pays the whole fare and the other person owes him $4.96, it seems problematic to pay the full $5 and say keep the change. The reason is that giving the extra four cents is interest which you're paying at the time of the loan.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 160:4 holds that it is forbidden to give a gift at the time of the return of the loan even if one doesn't specify that it is for the loan. Shach 160:4, Taz 160:2, and Chavot Daat 160:2 agree.</ref> Many poskim permit it when it is an amount that is insignificant to both of them (that if it fell on the ground they wouldn't pick it up) and some specifically permit it when you say give the change to [[tzedaka]].<ref>Minchat Yitzchak 9:88, Chelkat Binyamin 160:33, Horah Brurah 160:15, Laws of Ribbit p. 43</ref> | # It is questionable if it is permitted to borrow something and return back a tiny bit extra. For example, if you split a cab and one person pays the whole fare and the other person owes him $4.96, it seems problematic to pay the full $5 and say keep the change. The reason is that giving the extra four cents is interest which you're paying at the time of the loan.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 160:4 holds that it is forbidden to give a gift at the time of the return of the loan even if one doesn't specify that it is for the loan. Shach 160:4, Taz 160:2, and Chavot Daat 160:2 agree.</ref> Many poskim permit it when it is an amount that is insignificant to both of them (that if it fell on the ground they wouldn't pick it up) and some specifically permit it when you say give the change to [[tzedaka]].<ref>Minchat Yitzchak 9:88, Chelkat Binyamin 160:33, Horah Brurah 160:15, Laws of Ribbit p. 43, [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/945081/rabbi-ike-sultan/ribbit-keep-the-change-(scott-hoberman)/ Rabbi Hoberman ("Keep the Change")]</ref> | ||
==Repaying Interest== | ==Repaying Interest== | ||
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# If the lender is poor it is forbidden for the borrower to give him charity aside from repaying the loan. If he would have given him charity anyway if not for the loan it is permitted.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 160:254</ref> | # If the lender is poor it is forbidden for the borrower to give him charity aside from repaying the loan. If he would have given him charity anyway if not for the loan it is permitted.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 160:254</ref> | ||
# Many poskim say that it is forbidden for a seller to allow people to buy on credit only if they spend a certain amount. The reason is that having a minimum to buy on credit is like making a loan to the buyers on condition that they do more business with you.<ref>Mishnat Ribbit 4:34 cites Brit Yehuda 10:36 and Kuntres Acharon Lkitzur Dinei Ribbit 7:1 citing Rav Elyashiv and Rav Bronsdorfer as holding it is forbidden because this condition forces the buyer to spend more and that is like lending money on condition that someone does business specifically with you (S"A 160:23). However, Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav Halberstaum (Refidato Zahav), and Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul (Parshat Ribbit 10:20) permit it since it isn't clear that the buyer is buying extra because of the loan. Also the merchant can have such a limit not to in order to create such a condition but to benefit his bigger customers. Rav Karelitz held practically one shouldn't do this because it is common that a buyer will come to pay and then realize that he doesn't have enough and then go back in order to reach the limit, which would be obvious that he is doing so for the loan.</ref> | # Many poskim say that it is forbidden for a seller to allow people to buy on credit only if they spend a certain amount. The reason is that having a minimum to buy on credit is like making a loan to the buyers on condition that they do more business with you.<ref>Mishnat Ribbit 4:34 cites Brit Yehuda 10:36 and Kuntres Acharon Lkitzur Dinei Ribbit 7:1 citing Rav Elyashiv and Rav Bronsdorfer as holding it is forbidden because this condition forces the buyer to spend more and that is like lending money on condition that someone does business specifically with you (S"A 160:23). However, Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav Halberstaum (Refidato Zahav), and Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul (Parshat Ribbit 10:20) permit it since it isn't clear that the buyer is buying extra because of the loan. Also the merchant can have such a limit not to in order to create such a condition but to benefit his bigger customers. Rav Karelitz held practically one shouldn't do this because it is common that a buyer will come to pay and then realize that he doesn't have enough and then go back in order to reach the limit, which would be obvious that he is doing so for the loan.</ref> | ||
# It is forbidden for the borrower give a lender a loan during or after the original loan unless he regularly did so previously because doing so is considered a favor to the lender. This is only an issue if the second loan is larger or for a longer period of time, otherwise some poskim hold that it is permitted to give the lender such a loan.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 160:90 based on the Graz writes that for rabbinic questions of interest we follow the opinion that it is permitted to give a loan to one's lender.</ref> | |||
===Following Instructions of the Lender=== | ===Following Instructions of the Lender=== | ||
