Who Loses the Money?
Question
Taxi ride on Erev Shabbat
If three friends agreed to share a taxi on Erev Shabbat and all estimated the total cost to be around 30 shekels, and they agreed that one person would pay the driver and the others would reimburse him, what is the halachic status in the following case?
There was no taxi available, and as Shabbat was about to begin, the money had to be left at the side of the road. After Shabbat, the money was not found.
Do the two friends need to reimburse 20 shekels to the friend who had been carrying the money?
If three friends agreed to share a taxi on Erev Shabbat and all estimated the total cost to be around 30 shekels, and they agreed that one person would pay the driver and the others would reimburse him, what is the halachic status in the following case?
There was no taxi available, and as Shabbat was about to begin, the money had to be left at the side of the road. After Shabbat, the money was not found.
Do the two friends need to reimburse 20 shekels to the friend who had been carrying the money?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
Unless agreements were made before the money was left at the side of the road, the loss falls solely on the owner of the money. This is because the loan only takes effect once he actually pays the taxi, and since he did not end up paying the taxi, it is not considered that he lent them any money.
There is no real obligation for the others to contribute to the loss. However, if it is a Yeshiva bachur who does not have sufficient support from his parents, then you may help him using Ma’aser money, for example.
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