Couch From A Gemach
QUESTION 63: COUCH FROM A GEMACH
A friend who works in a furniture gemach (an organization
that lends to those in need) called my wife, and said
someone wants to contribute a couch, but the gemach has
no one to pick it up and no place to store it. The person
at the gemach said that we would be helping them if we picked
it up and kept it, and that optionally we can pay whatever we
want. How do we figure out how much to pay for it? Should
it be based on the true value of the couch, or on our ability
to pay? Should we have it evaluated by a person who knows
couches?
RABBI BELSKY
It's a used couch. You only need to pay whatever - in your
heart - you feel you want to pay, or feel you should pay.
It's a donation.
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION 64: PAYING FOR A MIKVEH
A friend of mine went to a mikveh (ritual bath) that costs $2.
When he got there, he realized he had no money on him, and there
was no one there. Can he use the mikveh anyway, and pay at
another time? Does it make a difference if this mikveh is new
to him, or is one he goes to regularly?
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