[Avodah] early bird specials and ribbis

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, February 19, 2007 7:22 am, R Michael Kopinsky quoted me and asked:
:> Avaq LH is assur because it leads to LH.

: Meheicha teisi?  Maybe it is prohibited because it in itself is slightly
: derogatory, even without passing the d'oraisa test of what's considered
: LH.

I got this impression from the CC, Hilkhos LH pereq 9, who includes speaking
positively of someone as avaq LH when it effectively invites the listener to
respond, "Yeah but..." (E.g. in front of a rival or when speaking in public.)

:> Is avaq ribis prohibited as ribis, or prohibited as mar'is ayin?
:
: As Zev said, there are different categories.  Mechzei K'ribbis (which he
: says is applicable here, I haven't looked up the sources properly to agree
: or disagree in this particular case) is different from Avak Ribbis.  The
: Rosh writes in Eizehu Neshech (on the sugya of "Ein Sochrim mimenu
: b'pachos") that Mechzei K'ribbis is subjective, and thus dependent on the
: situation.

Given this Rosh, what would be the status of heter iska today? Does it make a
difference if the person is enough of a lamdan to really feel its more than
just a loophole?

Tir'u baTov!
-mi

-- 
Micha Berger             Spirituality is like a bird: if you tighten
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