Purim Damages

Post Views: 1,506

Must one pay for damages incurred during a Purim meal?
 During the Purim festivities, a guest who was extremely overjoyed stood on our table to begin dancing on it and after a few seconds the entire table collapsed, and is now broken. Is that individual obligated to pay for the damages?
Some Poskim rule that if one caused damage to his friend as a result of the rejoicing of Purim he is exempt from paying for the damages. Some Poskim , however, rule that this only applies to property damage, however regarding bodily damage the person who caused the injury must pay. Other Poskim , however, rule he is exempt from even bodily damage. Others rule that by a large financial loss one is liable to pay, while by small damage he is exempt. Practically, the matter is to be judged in a Beis Din and dealt with in accordance to their ruling. All the above is with regards to one who injured another, or damaged his property, as a result of the rejoicing of Purim. If, however, he intended to cause damage or bodily harm then he is liable for all damages. [According to all, one must ask the victim for forgiveness after Purim even if he is exempt from payment. ]

Q&A

If one caused damage while drunk on Purim is he liable for damages?
Some Poskim rule that if one caused damage due to his drunken state he must pay for all damages done while he is drunk even if it occurred by the Purim feast. [If, however, the damage was accidentally caused during his state of rejoicing, then it follows the same law as a above, even if the was drunk at the time. ]

If one offended someone while he was drunk must he ask for forgiveness?
Yes. There is no allowance to embarrass, shame or offend someone due to the joy of Purim.

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.

Leave A Comment?

You must be logged in to post a comment.