Q&A: Verbal Agreement
Verbal Agreement
Question
Hello and blessings, Rabbi,
My sister ordered several sacred books for me in exchange for my not ordering any more in the coming months; we made a verbal agreement.
Does that have any significance, or can I continue buying books with my own money?
P.S. Thank you very much that the Rabbi dedicates his time to answering responsa; it is really not something to be taken for granted.
Answer
The question is not whether it was verbal or written. A contract can be binding even when made verbally. But here, plainly, there is no binding contract because of its content. This is a future commitment. Of course, there is an issue of keeping your word. And if it was clear that there was a condition here, then the books she bought for you are not yours, because you violated the condition.
Thank you very much, Rabbi.
It should be noted that I paid for the books; she only ordered them, and therefore in such a situation perhaps this does not take the books out of my possession.