Q&A: Hello Rabbi, what is the source of the saying "He who has the hundred has the say"? Does it have a source in the words of the Sages? Does it find expression in any Jewish law? Wouldn’t it be more correct to say that the one who has the hundred should not have any more right to an opinion than any other less wealthy person? The issue came up in an argument at a meeting of apartment owners when a newly religious owner of 4 out of the 8 apartments in the building raised this argument as a halakhic claim
Hello Rabbi, what is the source of the saying "He who has the hundred has the say"? Does it have a source in the words of the Sages? Does it find expression in any Jewish law? Wouldn’t it be more correct to say that the one who has the hundred should not have any more right to an opinion than any other less wealthy person? The issue came up in an argument at a meeting of apartment owners when a newly religious owner of 4 out of the 8 apartments in the building raised this argument as a halakhic claim
Question
Answer
I don’t know the source of this saying, but as far as I know it has no source in our traditional texts, and it certainly is not a principle of Jewish law. As for the question itself, independent of the saying, it depends on the context. For example, if a person owns four apartments in the building, it is very reasonable to give his opinion greater weight.
Discussion on Answer
I allow myself to disagree with the assertion that if a person has four apartments in the building, it is very reasonable to give his opinion greater weight. In my view, this is a distortion in thinking. Since no halakhic source was found for this saying, I would say that this is not a determination that the one who has the hundred should and/or is entitled to be the one whose opinion prevails. The intent of this saying is to describe a reality of life, according to which whoever has more money, his opinion is naturally heard more, because people are drawn to money, and as a result are drawn to whoever has money, but there is no obligation to prefer wealthy people over those who do not have much money! This is only a life reality: the one who has the hundred—and some write, the one who has the coin (from "coins")—is the one whose opinion carries the day, naturally and automatically.
Ronit, obviously money in the bank does not give extra rights in the building. But it makes sense that someone who owns four apartments should have four votes at the residents’ meeting. Each apartment gives its owner the right to influence the meeting (grants him one unit of influence), just like holding shares. By the same token, it makes sense that if there is one apartment jointly owned by 20 people, then together they have one vote, not 20.
Regarding sources for the saying and whether it has roots in the tradition, see: https://www.zeevgalili.com/2005/05/10597