Q&A: Merit Certificate
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Merit Certificate
Question
Recently the Hidabroot organization launched a “merit certificate” campaign: to enter into a partnership in the organization’s merits (or something like that) and thereby come out vindicated in judgment on Yom Kippur. What does the Rabbi think about this? Is this considered theft?
Answer
I don’t know if it’s theft. They probably believe this has validity, and presumably the donors believe in it too. If both sides believe in it, then there’s no theft here.
Discussion on Answer
Ask them. Though as is well known, they didn’t invent this.
Is there any reasoning that such a certificate has any validity?