Q&A: Short Selling on the Stock Market
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Short Selling on the Stock Market
Question
With God’s help,
Hello Rabbi,
I wanted to ask: does the Rabbi see any problem—something forbidden, or at least inappropriate—in doing a short sale on Israeli stocks or Israeli indices, from the standpoint of rejoicing at another’s downfall (all the more so, seemingly, regarding your fellow than regarding your enemy), or something along those lines?
At the moment I’m not talking about a problem of interest, because as far as I know that company has a halakhic business arrangement permitting it.
Thank you.
Answer
I really don’t see any problem.