Kosher Money

“Listen to the statutes and the laws that I am teaching you to do…” (Devarim 4:1) 

Taking Liberties with Family 

R’ Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov wrote in Agra DeKallah (Parshat Emor) as follows: 

“When speaking about monetary wrongs (ona’at mammon), the Torah says (Vayikra 25:14), “Do not wrong a man his brother (ish et achiv),” rather than “a man his fellow (ish et amiso).” In financial matters, people are often more inclined to take liberties with a close relative or sibling. This is because relatives frequently have business dealings with each other — particularly over inheritances and gifts — and a person may convince himself that it is acceptable to take more, assuming his relative has an obligation to support him. For this reason, the Torah specifically warns against wronging “a brother” — and certainly the same applies to anyone else.” 

This pitfall — granting oneself a self-made “permit” to wrong a brother financially — is especially common in matters of inheritance. Beyond the reasons already mentioned that can develop between siblings over the years, there is another factor. 

The Gemara, in the case of two people holding a tallis (Bava Metzia 2b), notes that with a found object, people are more likely to justify grabbing hold of something another has found, in order to split it reasoning that the other person loses nothing, since it came to him freely and without effort. 

Likewise, with an inheritance, some view it as if, after the father’s passing, the estate has become like ownerless property. This mindset leads them to feel justified in taking, through falsehood or deceit, more than what is rightfully theirs according to Torah law. 

Therefore, it is proper to alert people to this dangerous blind spot — for “to Hashem belongs the earth and its fullness” — and He has given us in His Torah the laws of inheritance and wills, according to which the assets are to be divided in accordance with the will of the Creator and Master of all beings. 

One who wishes to transgress this with falsehood and deceit will, in the end, gain nothing from it. 

The Illusion of Profit from Dishonesty 

Although it may appear, on the surface, that some people profit through falsehood and deceit, this is merely an illusion. In Heaven, the natural order is never altered, for the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world with free choice so that man may choose the good as defined by the Torah. In reality, any gain acquired through prohibited means will not remain. 

There are countless ways it can be lost — a downturn in business, being robbed, not receiving payment, or falling ill (God forbid) and having to spend heavily on doctors and medicines. In the end, such a person not only loses what he took, but also suffers greatly (may Heaven have mercy). 

He may even imagine that he was “fortunate” to have lied — reasoning that without it, he would never have had the funds to pay the doctor — but in truth, the opposite is the case: without that wrongdoing, he would never have fallen ill at all. 

Moreover, one who engages in deceit and violates Lo Signov (“Do not steal”) and Lo Sigzol (“Do not rob”) in matters of inheritance inflicts serious harm upon himself, for he stirs up hatred between brothers — well known as the chief cause of family disputes. As the Gemara teaches (Kiddushin 80b), even during the father’s lifetime, it is more common for a man to hate a paternal brother than a maternal one, because a paternal brother reduces his share of the inheritance. 

Frequently, the initial deceit compels the perpetrator to lie further in order to cover it up; and when both the deceit and the lies eventually come to light, they bring him deep humiliation. 

What We Feed Our Children Shapes Their Souls 

In addition to all this, he destroys the nachas that every person wishes to see in his descendants. For when he gives and feeds his children from this money — which he acquired through theft and deceit — it causes them to spiritually deteriorate (God forbid). 

The Agra DePirka (section 126) also relates that R’ Menachem Mendel of Rimanov once spoke about something truly puzzling. We often see children who, in their younger years, go off to their teacher each day, immersed in Torah study, praying with focus, and living with good, upright conduct. Yet later, as they grow older, some of these same children (God forbid) drift into poor character and neglect Torah and prayer altogether. 

Where does this change come from? After all, the Torah they learned in their youth is described as “pure breath without sin” (Shabbos 119b) — it should have stood by them, strengthening their souls, for one mitzvah naturally draws another in its wake. 

He explained that the root of the problem is often found in the home: when parents feed their children with money acquired dishonestly — earned through theft or crooked dealings — that food, tainted at its source, becomes part of the child’s very being. Over time, it awakens unhealthy desires and negative traits within them. 

Ask A Dayan 

With this in mind, every Jew should pause and reflect: whenever there is even a doubt about to whom a sum of money belongs, don’t simply “decide” for yourself. 

The Torah’s perspective on ownership does not always match the assumptions of ordinary people. 

Just as one would ask a halachic authority whether a questionable piece of meat is kosher before eating it, so too should one ask a competent Dayan before making use of money whose ownership is in doubt. 

And there is nothing to lose by doing so — for if, according to Torah law, the money is not truly yours, it will not remain with you in the end. 

Your Father is Giving You 

We can understand the verse as a timeless warning from the Holy One, blessed be He, to the Children of Israel — given before they entered Eretz Yisrael and meant for every generation. 

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the laws that I am teaching you to do” — live your lives guided by all the laws of the Torah. “So that you may live, and come, and inherit the land” — for only then will you receive the heritage of your fathers in a way that allows you to dwell in it peacefully. 

This peace can be preserved only if you guard yourselves from theft and deceit in matters of inheritance. The key is to remember: “that Hashem, the God of your fathers, is giving you” — your inheritance comes from Him; it is not ownerless property for anyone to take at will. 

What He has not given you, you will not truly be able to take for yourself or enjoy. But if you are scrupulous in all monetary matters, it will bring you blessing — both in this world and in the World to Come. 

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The Kalever Rebbe is the seventh Rebbe of the Kaalov Chasidic dynasty, begun by his ancestor who was born to his previously childless parents after receiving a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov zy”a, and later learned under the Maggid of Mezeritch zt”l. The Rebbe has been involved in outreach for more than 30 years and writes weekly emails on understanding current issues through the Torah. Sign up at www.kaalov.org.