Tuesday 9 April 2013

Question! $ $ $

Since halacha requires that people follow the law of the land (from what I understand), would getting paid under the table violate halacha?

13 comments:

  1. Tax fraud = stealing = violation of halacha. I've asked this question to rabbis, and the answer was clear.

    I've had this argument online with some who felt that it would be impossible to survive without doing this. My point was that, while the concept of "pikuach nefesh" (doing whatever is necessary to save a life) could apply in extreme cases (eg. stealing food was something that was often necessary for Jews starving during the Holocaust), there is no halachic reason for someone to be willing to "work under the table" when they never consider working on Shabbat or eating non-kosher food to save money.

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  2. It depends on what you think 'law of the land' means. Some think it applies only to laws made by kings.

    I think it does apply, and that Jewish law therefore forbids tax cheating. I think it is wrong to do so, though.

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  3. On another note, the image above on my computer shows $ being handed under the table. When I looked at this post from my ipad it showed an obese woman doing up her pants. What are you guys seeing?

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  4. In google reader: an obese woman

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Thank you - picture removed!

    The picture was a good reminder that my blog images also violate halacha, by a similar logic . ..

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  7. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the loophole that enables the frum babysitter of our shul to get paid for working on shabbos. She's not like a Rabbi with a salary for a year round job. She only works those specific hours and would be fired if she didn't. I don't get it....

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    1. I've wondered the same thing about how staff can work at kosher hotels on Saturdays. Will make this it's own post!

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  8. They aren't receiving cash on Saturdays.

    The "work" that it prohibited on Shabbat isn't defined as "something requiring effort" or "doing something for pay". Instead, it is 39 specific tasks that were connected with constructing the tabernacle in the desert, and tasks which are somehow linked to those 39 specific tasks. For example, no creating a fire = no driving a car with a combustion engine.

    If the task itself is otherwise permitted, the fact that you are paid for it (after Shabbat) does not make it forbidden.

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    1. I don’t think you can be paid for something you do on Shabbos, whether or not it’s a melacha. It’s gotten around by (wink wink) paying the person for stuff he does before or after Shabbos. So the babysitter is being paid for preparing activities before Shabbos, or something like that.

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    2. G*3's explanation is the one I've always heard.

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  9. So, in principle, it would be fine to make your employee (or slave in biblical times) work 7 days a week as long as you do not require him or her to do work that violates the 39 categories on the sabbath? Just curious...

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