Declared before us this day: [Hebrew date]
Day _______ Month __________ Year ________
Attested by [Hebrew name] son of [Hebrew name]
(Signed) ___________________________
(Signed) ___________________________
(Signed) ___________________________
This prosbul text, when properly executed both at the end of the sixth year and again at the end of the seventh year, offers halachic protection for the lender and ensures that people will loan money to those of our brethren who need to borrow funds.
Note that the text above leaves room for three signatures even though we explained that only two are actually required.Perhaps the general populace sees the prosbul as a function of a beit din, which typically has three sitting judges, and would worry that a document executed before a beit din of only two people is not valid. This might explain the common practice of convening three people for a prosbul.
Next week, we will discuss whether a prosbul is really necessary altogether.
(To be continued)
