Finances - Money for Competition
Question
I have a brother whose friend is 13 and a half. This friend and I had a competition where the loser must do or give whatever the winner asks. I lost, and he said he wants me to give him 100 shekels.The contest was three weeks ago, and I still haven’t given it to him. With Yom Kippur coming up, do I need to give him the 100 shekels before Yom Kippur, or can I ask if he’s fine with me giving it to him afterward—so it won’t be considered theft?
Answer
Shalom uVracha,
You don’t actually owe him anything.
In halacha this type of promise is called an asmachta, which isn’t legally binding.
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