DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 550 KB)
May One Leave a PayPal Account Active on Shabbat?

The Halacha prohibits conducting business transactions, "Mekach U’Memkar," on Shabbat. In the era of e-commerce, many new questions arise. For example, the Poskim discuss whether it is permissible to leave a PayPal account active on Shabbat. The issue is whether any money deposited on Shabbat or Yom Tob constitutes a prohibited transaction.

The consensus is to be lenient, provided the Jew did not instruct that the money be deposited specifically on Shabbat. The precedent for this ruling is found in Shulhan Aruch (Siman 246), where Maran permits giving money to a non-Jew to make a purchase, without specifically indicating to do so on Shabbat. The fact that the non-Jew actually bought the items for the Jew on Shabbat is inconsequential. Maran also rules (Siman 243) that the only reason it is prohibited to hire a non-Jew to manage a bathhouse is "Marit Ayin," people may misconstrue the arrangement. He does not cite the problem of the non-Jew receiving the money on the Jew’s behalf. From these precedents, it is derived that one may leave his PayPal account active on Shabbat, and any money deposited on Shabbat is permitted for use immediately after Shabbat.

SUMMARY
It is permitted to leave a Pay Pal account active on Shabbat.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Covering a Pot on Shabbat
Pouring Hot Water Into Hamin (Cholent) on Shabbat
Timers on Shabbat
Taking out Bread from an Oven on Shabbat
Reheating Foods on Shabbat Containing Congealed Fat
The Kiddush of the Day For One Who Is Sick
Laws of the Morning Kiddush
The Wording of the Kiddush - Part 1 of 2
Halachot of the Meal of Se’uda Shelishit
Receiving a Phone Call Made by a Gentile From an Area Where it is Still Shabbat; Making a Phone Call Before or After Shabbat to a Place Where it is Shabbat
When does Shabbat End?
Melava Malka
Laws of Melava Malka
Stretching the Barechu on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Halachot of Oneg Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found