[Avodah] early bird specials and ribbis

[David Riceman]

From: "Zev Sero" <zev at sero.name>

> The observer will think that Reuven went
> to Shimon for a simple loan, unrelated to any possibility of future
> employment; later, when the time came for Reuven to pay, he offered
> to work it off, accepting a lower rate than the prevailing wage at
> that season.  If that were really the case, then the discount would
> be clear ribbis.

No, it would still be an issur d'rabbanan of avak ribbis, because wages are 
not fixed.  Reread that Rashbam.

>  The reason it's not actually ribbis is because
> that isn't really what happened, but an outside observer is not to
> know that.

It's not a bad description of what really happened.  The worker agreed to 
lower wages than he could get elsewhere because he needed money right now. 
If the employer had fulfilled the mitzva of pasoah tiftah es yadcha lo 
properly, he would have given hm a loan without demanding a discount in 
future wages.  This is not actually ribis, but it's very close.

David Riceman