Vayera 5779

[Abraham tells the travelers] “and I will get a piece of bread” and then [the Torah] writes “and Abraham ran to the cattle” [in order to prepare a substantial meal for his guests]. Rabbi Eliezer said that we learn from here that righteous people say a little and do a lot, and the opposite is true for the wicked

(Bava Metzia, 87, 71)

Fishy Business

It was just a few days before Yom Kippur. Menachem, the gabbai of the Ohel Avraham synagogue, finished praying maariv, and closed his siddur. He was about to head for the door, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Mr. Levi, the synagogue treasurer, with a serious look on his face.

“Menachem, we’re having financial problems,” Mr. Levi began. “I had to cut down on building maintenance, because we just can’t cover it. I’m afraid to open the electric bill. You have to figure out a way to bring in more money!”

Without waiting for a response, Mr. Levi walked away, leaving Menachem alone with his thoughts. As Menachem walked home, he thought over his options. None of them sounded like they would work. It was then that he saw his good friend, Moshe. And then Menachem had an idea.

“Moshe, can I discuss something with you?” Menachem whispered, urgently. “I need you to help me out.”

“Of course, Menachem. What can I do for you?” Moshe inquired. 

“Moshe, the synagogue is having money trouble. Levi needs me to come up with money, and soon, otherwise we might get our electricity shut off.” Menachem sighed. “Moshe, you know how David Mizrachi buys the right to say Maftir Yona every Yom Kippur afternoon. He’s been doing it for years. If you bid against him, and raise the price, you’ll get David to give more money to the synagogue. David will get the mitzva of giving extra charity, you’ll get the mitzva of getting him to give charity, and Levi will be able to pay the electric bill. It’s a win-win-win situation, just in time for Yom Kippur!”

Moshe and Menachem shook hands and parted ways.

Yom Kippur arrived. It was mid-afternoon, and Mr. Levi stood with his hand poised above the bima. “Alright, Maftir Yona. 100 shekel. Yes, 180 shekel. 360 shekel for Maftir Yona.”

The numbers climbed higher and higher. One by one, the men dropped out, until it seemed that Maftir Yona would, once again, go to David Mizrachi. “1000 shekel,” David called out, confidently.

“1000 shekel” echoed Mr. Levi.

“2000 shekel,” called out Moshe.

David gasped. He tried to find his voice, but he knew it was useless. It was just more than he could afford. With a heavy heart, he sat down.

Mr. Levi eyed David for a moment, and then called out “2000 shekel going once! 2000 shekel going twice! 2000 shekel going three times! 2000 shekel Maftir Yona.”

The auction ended, and the services continued, with Moshe reading Maftir Yona. After Yom Kippur, Moshe approached Menachem.

“Menachem, I just want you to know that I have no intention of paying 2000 shekel. I was only bidding to help out the synagogue” complained Moshe. “I had no intention of actually buying anything, certainly not for 2000 shekel!”

Is Moshe correct, or is he required to pay for the privilege which he purchased?

Answer:

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, zt”l:

Leaving aside, for the moment, what Moshe’s financial obligations are, it must be stated that Menachem and Moshe did a very terrible thing.

That being said, Moshe is obligated to pay. When Moshe placed a bid, he was stating his intention to buy the privilege, if he won the auction. It makes no difference what Moshe’s intentions were. By participating in the auction, he obligated himself to pay.

The abominable practice of announcing fictitious charity pledges is not a new one. The Gemara (Sukka 29a) states “as a result of four things the possessions of baalei batim are given over to the government… [and the fourth is] because they pledge money for charity in public, and don’t give it.” The Maharsha explains that such people “pledge a large amount of money, and don’t give the entire amount, because they say that they never had intention to pay, rather, they pledged in order to encourage others to donate.”

We see that this practice occurred, and was condemned by our sages, in the days of the Gemara, and that the punishment for such behavior is severe.

In summary: Moshe is obligated to pay the full amount, and Menachem and Moshe’s behavior was disgraceful.

('ע"פ מעין אומר חלק י, פרק ו',סימן ז)