Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein: May One Publicize the Name of a Resident Who Refuses to Pay Building Fees?
A practical and sensitive halachic question—whether it is permissible to publicize the name of a resident who has failed to pay vaad bayis (building maintenance) fees—was addressed during a chizuk gathering held at the home of Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein.
The gathering took place as the avreichim of Kollel Chafetz Chaim B’Iyun, part of the nationwide kollel network under the nesius of Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein, marked the completion of their joint study of Sefer Chafetz Chaim.
The event was attended by senior rabbanim of the kollel network, including Rav Moshe Zakai and Rav Akiva Zaritzky, as well as the noted mezakeh harabbim Rav Aharon Margalit, author of Eshaleich.
Opening the gathering, Rav Zilberstein delivered a central address in which he spoke at length about the stature of the Chafetz Chaim, sharing striking insights and accounts of his conduct.
“If I were not afraid, I would say that the Chafetz Chaim was akin to the Rambam in his generation,” Rav Zilberstein said. “In his time, the Rambam was the rav of all of Klal Yisroel, and today it is similar with the Chafetz Chaim. His seforim are accepted everywhere, without dispute. Fortunate are you for immersing yourselves in the words of this giant of Torah.”
Following his remarks, Rav Zilberstein presented a contemporary halachic question to the assembled avreichim, as well as to philanthropist Rami Feller, who studies regularly b’chavrusa with the rav every Friday night: Is it permissible to post a notice on a building bulletin board stating that a particular family has not paid its vaad bayis dues?
Rav Zilberstein then cited the ruling he heard from his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, that after proper warning, such publication is permitted.
“After giving prior notice, it is allowed,” Rav Zilberstein stated. “There is no prohibition of embarrassing someone or of lashon hara. The proof is from the Gemara in Kesubos, which states that one who refused to support his minor children was publicly proclaimed in the marketplace: ‘The cruel raven feeds its young, while So-and-so does not feed his children.’ We see that it is permitted to shame a person who fails to meet his obligations. All the more so in the case of a resident who benefits from the investments of his neighbors while refusing to repay them, which constitutes gezel.”
Rav Zilberstein added an additional proof from halacha, noting that Beis Din is permitted to seize a borrower’s assets in public, even though doing so may cause embarrassment, while entering the borrower’s home is prohibited. “Clearly,” he said, “the public nature of such an action is not forbidden, despite the resulting shame.”
The gathering concluded with a powerful song of tefillah, ‘Tehei hasha’ah hazos sha’as rachamim v’eis ratzon’. Rav Zilberstein himself joined in the dancing together with Rav Edelstein and the assembled participants. As the event drew to a close, Rav Zilberstein urged those present to return immediately to learning the Chafetz Chaim, emphasizing the importance of the daily practice of studying two halachos from the sefer. “It is truly extraordinary,” he said, “and it is a segulah for everything one may need.”
{Matzav.com}
