Profitable Ticket

"A broker is entitled to a fee if he arranges so ahead of time or if that is the standard practice," said Rabbi Dayan. "Similarly, had Mendy said, 'Sell for $150 and keep any extra,' you would get the difference.' You would then become a shomer sachar [paid guardian) on the ticket, though, if the item had inherent value, and would be responsible for it regarding theft until it was sold [185:4; Shach 185:5].

"Here, however, you simply offered to sell the ticket to Mr. Kurz on Mendy's behalf," "so all $180 goes to him."

Rabbi Meir Orlian is a faculty member of the Business Halacha Institute, headed by HaRav Chaim Kohn, a noted dayan. To receive BHI’s free newsletter, Business Weekly, send an e-mail to subscribe@businesshalacha.com. For questions regarding business halacha issues, or to bring a BHI lecturer to your business or shul, call the confidential hotline at 877-845-8455 or e-mail ask@businesshalacha.com.