iS CrypTo koSher?

Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman

QWhat does Judaism have to say about cryptocurrency? Is it considered money according to the Torah?

This is a great question, because there really is a very practical difference in Jewish law whether something is considered a currency or a commodity. In most situations and transactions it makes no practical difference whether the item is actual currency or not –as long as it has monetary value it can be used for the purposes of a transaction in Jewish law. However, there are some examples that do have implications in Jewish law. One such example is when making a loan.

There is an explicit Biblical law in the Torah that prohibits charging interest or any kind of usury fee when making a loan to a fellow Jew. This law applies not only when lending money, but also when lending merchandise. In general, you can lend merchandise, but because the value of the merchandise can fluctuate, you have to return the same monetary value of the merchandise and not the actual amount of merchandise.

For example, if I borrow ten kilos of grapes from you when they were worth $10 per kilo ($100), and then return them to you when they are with $12 per kilo ($120), I am paying back more than I borrowed, which is considered a form of interest. Therefore, I should pay back $100 worth of grapes, regardless of the number of kilos. (In the example above I would return 8.33 kilos of grapes, even though I borrowed 10 kilos). There are some exceptions, such as an item of a very small value, like a loaf of bread, or if the item has a fixed price.

When it comes to currency, however, one can simply borrow and return the same amount of money. So we see there is a significant difference regarding whether we consider cryptocurrency to be actual currency, or an item/commodity. According to Jewish law, “currency” is defined as something that the sovereign government declared as the legal tender of the country, and/or is the generally accepted currency used in that locale for transactions. Based on this definition, it is clear that crypto does not currently have the status of currency according to Jewish law. It is treated the same as a foreign currency, which is considered a commodity. Practically, that means that if you borrow bitcoin from someone, you need to return the value of the bitcoin you borrowed, not actual bitcoin.

While the laws of interest and usury are sometimes complex, the Sages teach that they incredibly important and special, possibly because they are so easy to overlook and sweep under the rug. But in these subtleties we have the opportunity to reflect refinement and attention to detail in our day to day lives, and bring G‑dliness into our hearts and the parts of our lives where seemingly “no one is watching.” In fact, the Torah tells us that in the merit of being meticulous about these laws of interest and usury, we will merit the coming of Moshiach and a secure dwelling in the Holy Land. EM

Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman is the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario. You can Ask the Rabbi at jrcc.org or fax to 416.222.7812. To meet with Rabbi Zaltzman in person, feel free to call 416.222.7105 to book an appointment. Appointments are generally available on Wednesday evenings after 7pm. Rebbitzin Chiena Zaltzman is also available for private consultations by appointment on Wednesday evenings from 9 to 10pm by calling 416.222.7105.

Наступление Осенних праздниковРош Ашана и Йом Кипур совсем скоро. В Рош Ашана Вс-вышний судит все свои творения, определяя для них предстоящий год. В молитве «Видуй» - «Покаяние», кото-рую несколько раз произносят во время праздничных служб, перечисляются все мыслимые грехи, которые человек может совершить. Почему побуждение к греху овладевает человеком? Может, это связано с проступком Первого Человека – Адама, который, как известно, в тот же день, когда его сотворил Вс-вышний, ослушался Творца. Ранее мы с Вами не обсуждали проступок Адама, - мне не хочется употре-блять слово «грех» по отношению к святому Первому Человеку. Общеизвестен тезис, что человечество страдает из-за совершенного Адамом греха. Это правда. Правда? Так что же совершил Адам, почему его проступок называется грехом, и чем этот грех обернулся для человечества? Талмуд объясняет, что Адам не должен был трогать виноград, который назывался древом жизни. Виноград? Я слышала, что было яблоко или даже инжир...

The article above is excerpted from the Russian edition of Exodus Magazine. To subscribe, please visit exodusmagazine.org or call 416.222.7105.

Sukkot Community Events

Hundreds of people of all ages participated in dozens of events and celebrations during the week-long Sukkot festival, referred to in Judaism as "the time of our rejoicing.” JRCC Branches hosted several events, parties for children, as well as special events for adults.

The children’s Sukkot events featured music, prizes, children’s entertainment, and holiday-themed crafts and activities that made the holiday spirit palpable – including, of course, eating in the Sukkah and shaking the lulav and etrog. In addition to the family parties, JRCC branches also hosted evenings specifically for adults to focus on their own spiritual growth and social activities, and to experience the joy of Sukkot and “Simchat Beit HaShoeva” in their own way.

Some of the Sukkot-themed events included Sushi Under the Stars, Soup in the Sukkah, Scotch & Steak in the Sukkah and a Sukkah Hop where people travel as a group from sukkah to sukkah in the neighborhood.

Special events were also held for teens and seniors. See picture gallery on page 16.

Shabbat For Young Professionals

On September 30, over 100 people attended the first monthly Shabbat Dinner of the new year for Jewish young Professionals at the JRCC East Thornhill. The evening featured a gourmet dinner and entertainment, and an inspiring address by Edward Kholodenko, the CEO and President of Questrade. Space was limited and the event was quickly booked to capacity. After an enjoyable and uplifting evening of connecting to our Jewish heritage and to one another, everyone is looking forward to the next event. For more information and upcoming events, please contact Dovid Faynberg, the organizer of the Young Professionals programs at 416-222-7105 x245 or Dovid.faynberg@jrcc.org.