CM Questions

While Rabbi Goodman was away in Israel for the summer, the Boca Shul’s building committee decided to surprise him with a “Shul Improvement Campaign.” It was announced on Friday night with a goal of raising $10,000 and completing the project before the Rabbi’s return.

The money came in quickly — many members were eager to donate. But when it came time to actually spend the funds, a dispute broke out about what had been announced. No one could agree on the original plan, so the money was set aside until Rabbi Goodman returned.

When he was informed of the situation, Rabbi Goodman asked for witnesses who could testify to what the building committee had announced. Most donors didn’t care how the money was used, but:

• Two witnesses testified that the funds were designated for building a new bima.
• Four witnesses testified that the funds were designated for purchasing a modern chandelier to hang over the bima.

What will Rabbi Goodman decide?

1. He will treat the two witnesses and the four witnesses as halachically equal, causing their testimony to cancel out. Since neither side outweighs the other in halacha, he will disregard the testimony and use another method — such as polling the donors — to determine how to use the funds.
2. He will use the money for the chandelier, since four witnesses outweigh two witnesses.

There is a concept that if our forefathers did not do a certain practice, we should also refrain from doing it. For example: 500 years ago, Jews did not wear techeiles, the blue thread on tzitzis. Does that mean that since Jews did not wear it then, it has now become our minhag not to wear it today?

According to Torah law, women are permitted to serve as a shochet and may perform shechita on both animals and poultry. However, historical records show that in Ashkenazi communities, women were not practicing shechita 500 years ago. What if a woman today wanted to learn the halachot of shechita so that she could slaughter her own chicken? Even though the practice fell out of use in Ashkenazi communities long ago, can the original halachic allowance be reinstated today?

Congregation Shaarei Shamayim celebrated its 100th anniversary only a few years ago, and all this time a woman never said Kaddish. Until Melany Rudin's father, the well-known real estate developer Sol Rudin, died. Melany was adamant that she say Kaddish for her beloved father (she didn't have any brothers, and her husband, Lenny (the "louse"), was not interested in saying Kaddish), and she made a big fuss until Rabbi Cohen finally decided to address this issue. If Rabbi Cohen follows the ruling of the Shach, may he change the congregation’s longstanding minhag and permit Melany—a woman—to recite Kaddish in the synagogue during a minyan, just as the men do?

Jo Jo Shehebar tried to get his mechutan, Isaac Dwek, to repay the $2,000 he had loaned him, but Isaac denied ever receiving a loan. Jo Jo brought the case to the Great Neck Beis Din. During the hearing, Evan Elyahou and Zack Mizrachi testified that they had witnessed the loan take place. The dayanim then retired to their chambers to deliberate for a few minutes and returned ready to issue a verdict. However, moments before Chief Dayan Ben Chaim announced the decision, Evan and Zack suddenly stood up and said, “We apologize, but we lied in our testimony. We were not present at any loan—if it even happened. Please do not reach the wrong judgment because of us!” Given this new development, how will the Beis Din rule?

1. The Beis Din will dismiss the case and will not require Mr. Dwek to pay Mr. Shehebar anything.
2. The Beis Din will rule that Mr. Dwek must pay Mr. Shehebar $2,000, based on the witnesses’ original testimony.
3. The Beis Din will rule that the two witnesses must pay Mr. Shehebar $2,000.

Richard Kagan had just broken ground on his new Lakeshore Towers project, and the contractor was demanding cash up front for supplies and labor. At the same time, his Madison View tower needed a multi‑million‑dollar refit, and the insurance payout wouldn’t arrive for at least a year—if it arrived at all. To make matters worse, his daughter’s wedding at the Plaza Hotel was only a week away, and the caterer required full payment in cash on the night of the event.

Despite his wealth, Richard’s money was tied up in real estate and long‑term projects. He was asset‑rich but cash‑poor. Desperate, he went to the East Side Kuppah’s loan gemach division to request a short‑term, interest‑free loan to cover the wedding expenses.

“As it happens,” the loan administrator told him, “we do have the funds available, and there are no poor applicants waiting.” Will they give him the loan?

1. The Gemach will tell him that although he is in temporary need, he is still a very wealthy man and therefore not eligible for a free loan. They will advise him to sell some assets or take a standard bank loan with interest.
2. The Gemach will give him the loan, because it is still a mitzvah to lend money interest‑free—even to a wealthy person—when he is in genuine need of liquidity.

During their luncheon meeting at The Wall Street Grill, Elisha presented his pitch to Levi: he was seeking a $250,000 loan to launch his bicycle shop. Levi listened, agreed to the loan, and added that he would require 5% interest. “Go hire a lawyer to draft the loan agreement,” Levi instructed. “Since we’re both Jewish, have him prepare a proper heter iska as well. When everything is ready, schedule an appointment with my secretary.”

Elisha followed the instructions, paid $500 to have the documents prepared, and called the following week. “I’m sorry,” the secretary told him, “but Levi asked me to inform you that he no longer wishes to proceed with the loan.”

Elisha brought the matter before the Yorkville Beis Din. He explained that he had incurred $500 in legal expenses at Levi’s direction. Levi acknowledged that he had instructed Elisha to have the loan agreement and heter iska drafted, and admitted that he had initially intended to lend the money but argued that he was under no legal obligation to finalize the loan. How will the Beis Din rule?

1. Levi will be obligated to lend the full $250,000 under the original terms.
2. Levi will not be obligated to lend the $250,000, but he will be required to reimburse Elisha for the $500 spent on preparing the documents.
3. Levi will not be obligated to lend the $250,000, nor will he be required to compensate Elisha for any expenses.

“Nice lawnmower!” said Mr. Geffner as he watched Harry Brochstein’s groundskeeper, Carlos, riding a new Ryobi 80V mower. 

“Do you think I could borrow it tomorrow when Manuel comes to attend to my lawn? He would absolutely love it compared to the mower I have now!

“Sure!” said Harry.

“Really?” asked Mr. Geffner, who knew that sometimes Harry wasn’t serious.

“Yes, I promise you can borrow the mower tomorrow,” said Harry.

But when tomorrow came, Harry had a change of heart. The mower cost $6,000, and he became worried that lending it out might result in damage. He now prefers not to lend it.

What must Harry do?

1. Harry is obligated to lend his lawnmower to Mr. Geffner, because a Jew is obligated to keep his word.
2. Harry is not obligated to lend his lawnmower, even though he “promised” to do so.

During their luncheon meeting at The Wall Street Grill, Elisha presented his pitch to Levi: he was seeking a $250,000 loan to launch his bicycle shop. Levi listened, agreed to the loan, and added that he would require 5% interest. “Go hire a lawyer to draft the loan agreement,” Levi instructed. “Since we’re both Jewish, have him prepare a proper heter iska as well. When everything is ready, schedule an appointment with my secretary.” Who must pay the lawyer's fee (estimated to be at least $400) for drafting the loan document and the heter iska?

1. Levi, the lender
2. Elisha, the borrrower
3. The lender and the borrower split the costs 50-50.

At the annual Gala Melaveh Malkah at The Boca Shul, Harry Brochstein turned to Mr. Goldberg and announced loudly, “JJ, I am going to give you a gift of $10,000.” The eight other men at table 6 heard him clearly, and because Harry spoke so loudly, men at nearby tables heard him as well. Even Rabbi Goodman at the dais heard the declaration. With all these witnesses present, is Harry halachically obligated to give Mr. Goldberg the $10,000 gift?

At the annual Gala Melaveh Malkah at Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, Levi was in a good mood. Seeing Elisha at the table next to him, he publicly declared in a loud voice, “Elisha, I am mochel the $250,000 loan you owe me!”

Elisha’s first payment was due two days later. When that day passed without payment, Levi summoned Elisha to the Yorkville Beis Din to demand repayment. When questioned about his public statement at the Melaveh Malkah, Levi admitted it, but claimed he “didn’t mean it.”

How will Beis Din rule?

1. They will require Elisha to begin repayment according to the schedule, since Levi did not mean it and there were no designated witnesses to his statement.
2. They will declare the loan forgiven, since Levi admitted to the Beis Din that it was forgiven.

According to the Torah, all loans are cancelled at the end of the Shemitah year. To ensure that people would still be willing to lend money, the Sages instituted the pruzbul, which allows a loan to remain collectible even after Shemitah. When the Beis HaMikdash is rebuilt and all Jews return to Eretz Yisrael, will the pruzbul still be valid?

During the Shemitah year, it is forbidden for Jews in the Eretz Yisrael to plant or harvest agricultural produce. Many rely on the Heter Mechira as a way to avoid these restrictions. According to the opinions that permit the use of Heter Mechira and allow working the land and consumption of produce grown under this arrangement, would this leniency still apply once, G-d willing, Shemitah in Eretz Yisrael returns to a Torah‑level obligation?

Every aspect of Levi's loan for $25,000 for Elisha's new bicycle shop was in the USA. With shemita coming up soon, according to the majority of poskim, is there a need for Levi to draft a pruzbul to prevent shemitah from cancelling his loan to Elisha?

According to most poskim, when should a pruzbul be written?

1. Right before the Shemitah year begins
2. Any time during the Shemitah year
3. Immediately before the end of the Shemitah year

What is a pruzbul and how does it work?

1. A sale of land to a non‑Jew to avoid agricultural prohibitions.
2. A document that transfers private loans to a Beis Din so they are not cancelled by Shemitah.
3. A declaration that all debts are forgiven before Shemitah.
4. A type of loan that is automatically repaid before Shemitah.

When writing a pruzbul, one transfers all outstanding loans to a Beis Din. How does this allow the lender to collect the loan after the Shemitah year?

1. Because Shemitah cancels only agricultural obligations, not monetary ones.
2. Because Beis Din is not subject to the Torah’s prohibition against collecting loans after Shemitah.
3. Because transferring the loan makes it automatically repayable before Shemitah.
4. Because a pruzbul permanently cancels the laws of Shemitah.

On Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Cohen sat with two other talmidei chachamim to write a pruzbul for each member of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, to ensure that everyone—including himself—would be able to collect any outstanding loans after Shemitah (which would otherwise be cancelled with the start of Rosh Hashanah the next evening).

When he was finished, Rabbi Cohen approached Reuven and lent him 10 dollars. Why would Rabbi Cohen intentionally make a new loan after writing the pruzbul?

1. Because loans made after a pruzbul are automatically doubled as a mitzvah incentive.
2. Because loans made after a pruzbul are not cancelled, so he could collect it later.
3. Because loans made after a pruzbul are cancelled, allowing him to fulfill the Torah’s mitzvah of letting loans lapse during Shemitah.
4. Because a rabbi must personally perform a loan after writing a pruzbul to validate it.

Harry Brochstein and Marty Kroll are 50–50 partners in Boca Rattan, a furniture store in West Boca. Marty manages the store full‑time, while Harry is essentially a silent partner. Marty regularly collects all the cash from sales and periodically gives Harry his share, and Harry has never been particular about the timing.

As the end of the Shemitah year approaches, Marty realizes he will not be able to pay Harry his outstanding share before Shemitah ends. Since this unpaid amount is considered money Marty owes Harry, would Harry need to prepare a pruzbul specifically to protect the money that Marty owes him so that Shemitah does not cancel the debt?

1. No, because only written loans are cancelled by Shemitah, not verbal agreements
2. No, because partnership profits are not considered a loan and Shemitah does not cancel them
3. Yes, because any money owed between Jews is cancelled by Shemitah unless protected by a pruzbul
4. Yes, but only if the partnership was formed during the Shemitah year

An emergency arose, and Rabbi Cohen realized he would not be able to be present with the Beis Din on Erev Rosh Hashanah to write a pruzbul for each member of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim. According to halacha, what type of Beis Din must he arrange in his place? Match each posek (Mechaber or Rema) with the type of Beis Din required:

1. A prominent, established Beis Din
2. A Beis Din consisting of any three Jewish men over the age of 13