Need Advice: Israeli Landlord Issues

[skyguy918]

+1 but who cares, a rebbi doesn't need to be a posek. He should be someone that has daas Torah and can help guide you.

Not sure what you're trying to say. I was addressing TimT's assertion that Choshen Mishpat shailos are more common than any other type, which is laughable.

Either way, it sounded from the OP that this is the Rov he goes to for psak in other areas, just the Rov wasn't comfortable answering Choshen Mishpat questions.

" much more common because it's easier.

It's obviously true that it's 'easier', as someone mentioned before it takes a lot longer to get smicha in Choshen Mishpat. My point was that Yadin Yadin is uncommon enough that not every local Rov who paskens certain types of shailos for people is goign to be able to handle all sorts of Choshen Mishpat questions. You seem to think every Rov who paskens needs to be holding in Choshen Mishpat because those are the most common types of questions, but that's simply false. Ask any Rov and you'll see that's not true.

[Sport]

Not sure what you're trying to say. I was addressing TimT's assertion that Choshen Mishpat shailos are more common than any other type, which is laughable.

Either way, it sounded from the OP that this is the Rov he goes to for psak in other areas, just the Rov wasn't comfortable answering Choshen Mishpat questions

I wasn't addressing just you, the entire back and forth seemed moot to me as I was under the impression that he asked his rebbi, not necessarily his posek. But I do agree with you that y"d and o"c shailos are far more common.

[shauly]

What neighborhood

Did you tell the next guy?

Rechavia. I feel terrible, a friend of mine from yeshiva is taking it next. All of this started right after he signed the new contract. He knows that the guy is doing this, but there's nothing we can do. He was a fine landlord until all of this started, so I'm really hoping he doesn't have a hard time..

The guy's name is Yigal Bergman of Herzliya. Apparently he owns apartments all over Israel. Some people told me that they have heard about these apartments down here that there is something sketchy with them. Apparently they used to be the machsan of the building that this guy renovated and is now renting out, most likely illegally.

He still hasn't gotten in touch with me, and as far as I know he hasn't tried to cash the check yet. In the morning I am going to the bank to close out my account to avoid the possibility of an overdraft.

My Rabbi will defer to some of the other rabbonim in the area if he is not sure about a shaila. He has sent me to other people a handful of times, or gone to others himself, usually when it concerns niddah or money. He is the posek of the yeshiva, and if I have a shaila he is the one that I go to, but he isn't the end-all authority.

Would you call a lawyer about $200? Why should you call a rabbi?

Rav Brevda Zt"l said that the worst advice you can possibly get is the advice you give yourself. He said that you should ask daas Torah when you are deciding which kitchen table you should get. That's already something difficult, but 900 shekel is a lot to me, so I definitely would (and did) speak to my rebbe for guidance.

[rots5]

wonder if its the saem baal dira as the zecharya rofeh one that the bal dira threatened to kill the middle man....

[BISPRO]

I'm dealing with a crooked landlord. We signed a one year lease about 7 months ago, and we are now leaving Israel for a few months. I notified my landlord, and found new tenants to take over the lease. After the new tenant signed the lease, the landlord tells me that there is a 900 shekel fee to turn over the apartment to a new tenant. I was never informed of this fee, and it's nowhere in the contract. I'm young, and this is my first apartment, so he is trying to squeeze as much money out of me as he is able to. At first I wasn't sure, but after speaking to some people everyone told me that he is a thief and that I should not pay him.

The problem is that he has my deposit, 2 months rent (8400 shekel) in cash. My neighbor recently had someone take over his lease, the landlord tried the same shtick, my neighbor refused, and the landlord is now withholding his deposit. Additionally, he went around his apartment, found a thousand things "wrong", and is demanding payment for them. My neighbor is taking him to court to settle the issue.

I'm leaving the country in two weeks. I have no time to deal with a court case, or to fight with him. Here are my options, as I see them:

I've considered just paying him the money, because as uncomfortable as it will be to lose 900 shekel, I'd much prefer that to losing the whole 8400.

Someone suggested that I get a letter from a lawyer saying that it's theft and that I am not obligated to pay him. I think that would just start a whole legal process, that I want to avoid.

Another person suggested something far sneakier. My landlord told me that he will just take the 900 out of the deposit before he gives it back to me. For some reason, he told me that I could also just give him a check for the amount. Assuming he still will take a check, I could give him a check and then cancel it before he can cash it. That way I'd have my deposit, and he will leave thinking he has my money. When he calls me to find out what the deal is, I can stall until I'm out of the country. The issue with that is that in addition to the 900, there is another 900 shekel that I legitimately owe him for a prepaid electric bill and vaad habayit fees. The check would have to include that amount to avoid his suspicion, but I have no right to not pay him that money. I asked my rabbi, and he told me that I need to ask someone more experienced in this area than him, so if I decide I want to take this route then I need to ask a shaila first.

The landlord is coming tomorrow. He is chiloni, so beis din isn't an option.

Any advice?

PM ME , will sort it out BH.

[rots5]

PM ME , will sort it out BH.

#ClassicTzadik!

[BISPRO]

Whatever you say. Don't know about you but I'm not going to the cops every time someone does something crooked. The guy has an innocent wife & kids that I don't want to see thrown out on the street. I try to see if there's any other way I could get some money back.

lol, in israel the best the cop can do is kill you with a ticket.
http://www.kikarhashabat.co.il/%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%90%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%9A-%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%91%D7%9C-%D7%93%D7%95%D7%97-%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%98%D7%A8-%D7%95%D7%9C.html

[TimT]

lol, in israel the best the cop can do is kill you with a ticket.
http://www.kikarhashabat.co.il/%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%90%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%9A-%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%91%D7%9C-%D7%93%D7%95%D7%97-%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%98%D7%A8-%D7%95%D7%9C.html

could you imagine how many excuses & complaints they must hear every day from some of those drivers ? Terrible story

[BISPRO]

could you imagine how many excuses & complaints they must hear every day from some of those drivers ? Terrible story

i know, and i don't blame the cop because i was not there and i don't know what really happened.
but there is no big us for calling the police in israel, unless if you have inside connection 

[TimT]

i know, and i don't blame the cop because i was not there and i don't know what really happened.
but there is no big us for calling the police in israel, unless if you have inside connection

In New York everyone has inside connections.