Business Halacha Daily

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: Reuven needed a variance for a construction project. His neighbor, Shimon, claimed that he would be negatively impacted by that variance. He went to the zoning board and tried to stop it but the board ruled in favor of Reuven and granted the variance. Shimon still has one more venue to stop the...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: We previously said that a neighbor has no standing in bais din to stop a yeshiva from opening in his residential neighborhood. If a yeshiva is building next door to a residential home, does the homeowner at least have a right to demand that they stain the windows facing his property so that the...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Can Neighbors Force a Yeshiva to Stain The Windows Facing Their Property?Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: We previously said that a neighbor has no standing in bais din to stop a yeshiva from opening in his residential neighborhood. If a yeshiva is building next door to a residential home, does the homeowner at least have a...

Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: Yankel lives in a quiet residential area. He lives in a town where it is permitted according to the local laws to build yeshivas even in such an area. Berel wants to build a yeshiva in this neighborhood. Does Yankel have any right according to Choshen Mishpat to stop the yeshiva from opening in his area? Answer: The Gemara in Bava Basra says that even though,...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: With a little effort, Reuven is able to see into his neighbor’s window from his backyard. He now wants to extend the deck in his yard to make room for a large sukkah. From the new deck, he will have a much clearer view of his neighbor’s window. Is he allowed to make this extension? Answer: Most...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: Reuven bought a house in a development. When he moved in, he noticed that the house he bought already has a window that overlooks his neighbor’s backyard. Does he have to close off the window or is he allowed to leave it the way it is? Answer: In the halachos of hezek riya, the Halacha will often...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: We previously said that in typical circumstances one should not open a window that allows him to see into a neighbor’s yard. What if the yard is already visible to a public area? For example, what if someone lives on a corner and his backyard faces the street? In such a case, if I live next door...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Shmuel HonigwachsQuestion: Reuven is making an extension to his house. After the extension is complete, the house will have a window that overlooks his neighbor’s backyard. Is that permitted? Answer: The Mishnah and Gemara in Bava Basra discuss the concept of “hezek riya” (infringing on someone’s privacy). It is stated...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Aryeh FinkelQuestion: Yankel made a birthday party for his child, which included helium balloons. Afterwards, he released some balloons in the street. The balloons went straight up and struck some electric wires, which caused a short. What type of mazik is he? Answer: This definitely is the hezek of aish. What Yankel did...

Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org Rav Aryeh FinkelQuestion: I built an extension on my house and made a new laundry room. My wife put the first load of laundry into the new washing machine and set the machine on the cold cycle. When she opened it at the end of the cycle, she realized that the plumber had mixed up the hot and cold water pipes, which had caused...