Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5201 — Tzedakah

By the grace of Hashem,

12 Adar Rishon* 5717,

Brooklyn,

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem,

Rav Yitzchak Noach (see note 1),

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter of this Monday, in which you mention the conclusion of this contract and the heter iska* (permit to conduct business) (see note 2).

The text of the heter iska* can be found in several books, in particular in the abridged Shulchan Aruch* published by Rav Feldman. In your case, there is a contract, and this is therefore easier to implement than for a simple loan.

If you do not find this text, it suffices to write the mention: "with a heter iska*," which will be sufficient until a Rav* completes this formula. Of course, it is preferable that the words "with a heter iska*" appear in the contract itself.

If, for any reason, this is not possible, you may write on a separate page: "The contract between such-and-such a person and such-and-such a person, concluded on such-and-such a date, is based on a heter iska*, by virtue of which we sign, on such-and-such a day, such-and-such a month, such-and-such a year, in such-and-such a city. Testimony of... Testimony of..."

Subsequently, it shall be specified: "All of this was carried out before us, the witnesses who signed below. Such-and-such a person and such-and-such a person committed before us and signed with their own hand. Word of so-and-so, witness. Word of so-and-so, witnesses."

Above all, I was pleased to read in your letter that your father is feeling better. May Hashem grant that he continue to improve, and that you give me good news also regarding all the other people you had mentioned in your letter.

With my blessing,

For the Rebbe Shlita*,

The secretary,

Notes

(1) Rav I. N. Silver, of Detroit.

(2) Heter Iska*, permitting the receipt of interest on a capital loan in the form of participation in the profits realized.