Chapter 183 : The laws of financial damage

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§1

It is forbidden to cause harm to one's friend's ¹ property even if he intended to pay, just as it is forbidden to steal and rob with the intention of paying. Even to cause damage to (the property of) his friend whether by action or by speech is forbidden for example; if Reuven sold goods to a gentile and Shimeon came and told him that they aren't worth that much, even if this is the truth it is forbidden, and anyone who causes damage to his friend even on something which is allowed by man's laws, is guilty according to Divine law until he makes up with his friend.

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1. "Friend" can also be understood as "neighbor".

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§2

Even one who had some harm done to his (property) is forbidden to get rid of it if by doing so harm will come to (the property of) his neighbor, because it is forbidden to save oneself by causing even (only) financial damage to his neighbor. However, before the damage comes to him he is permitted to push it away so that it doesn't come on him, even though doing this causes it to come on his neighbor, for example; a water carrier ¹ that was about to wash onto his field, while it hasn't reached his field he can erect a barrier in its' path, even though by doing this (the water) will wash onto his neighbor's field. However from when it enters his field it is forbidden to take it out such that it reaches his neighbor's field, because the damage has come to him he is not allowed to remove it from himself onto his neighbor.

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1. Such as a viaduct or irrigation channel.

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§3

Also the king's army which comes to the city and the residents are obliged to give them (the soldiers) billets, it's forbidden for one (of the residents) to bribe the officer to exempt him, for due to this damage will be caused to another Jew. ¹ Similarly in all cases of taxes it is forbidden to try to make the tax officer exempt him, if by doing so a heavier burden comes on others, one who does this is called a traitor. ²

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1. Who will have to put up more soldiers than he would have otherwise, therefore incurring greater cost and possible damage to his property.
2. lit. to give up.

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§4

It is forbidden to give up a Jew to a gentile whether his person or his possessions, whether by action or by speech, to slander him or to betray his secrets and whoever does this has no share in the world to come. Even (in the case of) a wicked person and a transgressor, one is forbidden to give him up, not his person or his possessions, even if he distresses him always by his words. However if his neighbor betrays him and he can't save himself except by giving (the neighbor) him up, it is permitted.

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§5

It is forbidden to enter into the ploughed field of one's neighbor because he treads on the ploughing and damages it.

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§6

It is forbidden to stand on your neighbor's field and look at it when the crops are high, so that he doesn't damage them by the "evil eye", and it is certainly forbidden to gaze at one's neighbor a way that would make him think he was trying to harm him by the "evil eye". Even with his business and his occupation where there is no fear of damage from the "evil eye", if he is working in his own house and property it is forbidden to stare at him without his knowledge, in case he doesn't want others to know about his deeds and business. It is good manners when one sees one's neighbor busy at his work to bless him by saying to him "may you succeed in your work".

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§7

Even to do in his own property something which would harm his neighbor is forbidden. One should place in one's courtyard near to his neighbor's wall, any object which is hot and emits heat and could damage the wall such as manure and the like, unless he distances it three hand-breadths, similarly he needs to move away ¹ so as not to spill water next to his neighbor's wall, and also the drain pipe from his roof needs to be distanced from his neighbor's three hand-breadths. Certainly he shouldn't empty out a chamber pot of urine close to his neighbor's wall. Also urinating close to his neighbor's wall, if the wall is of stone or wood without plaster it is enough to be one hand-breadth away, if the stones are dry rock there is no need to distance (oneself) at all, and one can urinate even on the wall. If the wall is of bricks or wood coated with plaster, one needs to distance (oneself) three hand-breadths.

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1. When pouring out water.