I live in Israel and purchased for an individual an airline ticket to the United States of a sum of 4000 shekel using my Israeli credit card. I asked them to pay me back in dollars and to deposit it into my US account while they are in America. Is there any issue of Ribis interest involved in doing so?[1]

Depends. If the condition is to pay back the dollars in accordance to the rate at the time of the purchase of the airline ticket, then it is forbidden to do so unless a number of conditions are fulfilled.[2] However, if the condition is the pay back the dollars in accordance to the value of the Shekel to the dollar at the time of paying it back, then it is permitted to do so.[3] Thus, if at the time of the purchase of the airline ticket the dollar was worth 4 NIS, for a total debt of $1000, while if at the time that he pays back the loan by depositing the money in your bank account the dollar is worth 3.8 or 4.2 to the NIS, then he is to pay back in accordance to the current value of the dollar to the NIS, and not in accordance to the original value at the time of the loan. In such a case it is possible that the lender will receive more or less dollars then the dollar value of the loan at the original time that the loan was given. However, he will receive the same amount of NIS, or value of NIS, that was lent originally, not more and not less, and hence it is not interest.

To note, however, that this only works in this case that the loan took place in the current country’s currency which is NIS in Israel, and will be paid back with the currency of the country that the payback is taking place which is US dollars in the United States. However, if he will be paying back dollars while still in Israel, then the above conditions must be fulfilled.[4]

[1] See Bris Pinchas chapter 16

[2] See Michaber Y.D. 175:4; Bris Pinchas 16:12; 20; Toras Ribis 19:16; Bris Yehuda 20 footnote 29

[3] Bris Pinchas 16:6 and 20; Machaneh Efraim 27; Maharam Alshich 129; Chazon Ish 72:6;

[4] See Bris Pinchas 16:12

I am overly joyful and grateful over the miracle that God made with the sudden death of the Haman of the generation and his helper? May I omit Tachanun due to my joy?[1]

If your abundance of joy and gratefulness to God prevents you from saying Tachanun, in my opinion you have upon whom to rely for omitting it. To note, that this Monday is part of the days of Bahab of which many are accustomed to fast and recite Selichos [although this is not the Chabad custom], and Beis Din Rabbanei Chabad of Eretz Yisrael established this day as a day of extra prayer. Practically, while certainly a great miracle was done and we must be grateful to Hashem and openly show gratitude for the miracle, nonetheless, the implications are unclear, and hence it is not a clear Hatzalah for us to establish it as a Yom Neis in which we should all omit Tachanun.

[1] See Lev Chaim 3:150; Kaf Hachaim 218:9 [see there that in Baghdad they do not say Tachanun on the 11th of Av because they were saved from the king of Persia]; Tzitz Eliezer 10:10; Koveitz Hearos Ubiurim 1299 p. 184

Is a Badekening to be done by a Zivug Sheiyni?[1]

Yes, but it is to be done by another woman, and not the Chasan. Likewise, it may be done under the Chuppah and not necessarily prior to walking to the Chuppah. [In this regard, it is defined as a Zivug Sheiyni even if the Kallah has not been previously married, but is not a Besula.[2]]

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[1] See Michaber E.H. 65:2; Rama E.H. 31:2; Chelkas Mechokeik 55:8; Aruch Hashulchan 55:24; Shulchan Haezer 2:25; Mahariatz 8; Seder Kiddushin Venissuin [Farkash] p. 80; Nitei Gavriel 51:3

[2] See Taz E.H. 61:1; Hamakneh E.H. 65; Encyclopedia Talmudit Vol. 16 Erech Chupah p. 425 So rule regarding Sheva Brachos that it has a status of Zivug Sheiyni: Noda Beyehuda Tinyana 61; Shemesh Tzedaka 5:40 in name of Ginas Veradim 1:17, brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah 62:9; Poskim brought in Nitei Gavriel 110:8 footnote 17