One Minute Halacha Daily - 67 Brocho on Mezuzah & 68 Return Policy

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#67 Brocho on Mezuzah

One does not make a Brocho on every room that requires a Mezuzah. There are a number of conditions in order to be able to make a Brocho on the Mezuzah. Although we are often stringent and follow the opinions that the room requires a Mezuzah, in order to make a blessing, we have to be able to satisfy all proper requirements so as not to risk the serious Aveirah of making a Brocho Levatalah, a blessing in vain. The rule is that anytime a Brocho may not be required, we do not make it. For example, many people make a Brocho on the front entrance or the main entry into the home. Usually, the first room - the foyer - is less than Dalet al Dalet, less than 4 x 4 Amos, which according to many opinions does not require a Brocho. Although this is an entry room and many Poskim say it therefore does need a Mezuzah, nevertheless, one should not make a Brocho unless it is a room that according to virtually all Poskim requires a Mezuzah. Rather, one should make a Brocho on a Mezuzah in a room that definitely needs a Mezuzah according to all opinions, even if it is not the main entrance or an entrance from the outside, but inside the house, and have in mind all the Mezuzos in the house while reciting the Brocho.

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.

Text by Miss Esther Rochel Elkaim

#68 Return Policy

Buying & Returning

When a store or a company has a return policy, for example that the purchaser may return an item after a certain period of time such as a week or two of using it, and one’s intention when buying the item is actually to only to use it for a week and then return it, one is allowed to do so provided they make it patently clear from the onset that they have zero intention of keeping the item. If one does not say so, there is an issue of Gneivas Daas, as this is deception. The owner or the merchant assumes that the buyer is planning to keep the item or that there is a chance that they will keep it, and that is the reason why the client is allowed to take the item for a week. If one makes it very clear that they have zero intention of keeping the item, and that their intention is purely to return it after a week or two, then one is allowed to do so if they make it absolutely clear. This applies only to non-Jewish stores. A return policy in a Jewish store can be a serious issue of Ribbis.

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.

Text by Miss Esther Rochel Elkaim