From the Rav’s Desk: Repaying a person who on his own initiative paid one’s debt on his behalf

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Questions:

I had a $1000 debt to my local Kosher grocery shop who allows me to buy on credit and was unable to pay him back and therefore was not able to buy anymore products from the store. I mentioned my problem to a few friends, and lo and behold the next day the grocery store owner tells me that the debt has been paid in full by an anonymous individual. This happened over two years ago and I am now more financially stable and would like to know if I am obligated to pay this person back.

Answer:

You do not have to pay him back, even if he asks for the money back, and certainly if he does not.

Sources: Poskim who rule no need to pay back person who paid loan: Michaber and Rama C.M. 128:1; Shach 128:5; Rambam Malveh Veloveh 26:6; Kesubos 109a; Tur 128 in name of Rambam ibid; Rashi Nedarim 33b; Rif Kesubos 63b; Tosafos Kesubos 108a in name of Riva; Yerushalmi Kesubos 13:2; Nedarim 4:2;  Poskim who rule must pay back person who paid loan: Yeish Cholkim, brought and negated, in Rama C.M. 128:1; Tur 128:2 in name of Rabbeinu Tam Kesubos 108a; Rosh Kesubos 13:8; Maryu 166; Darkei Moshe 128:2; Rama ibid regarding if it was owed to gentile

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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