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From: Bais HaVaad Halacha Center <info@baishavaad.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 21, 2023, 8:01 PM
Subject: Business Halacha Daily
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

How to Do Teshuvah for Geneivas Da'as ?

Question: Someone violated the prohibition of geneivas da'as by deceiving another in one of the ways discussed over the last few segments (e.g., selling an item while misrepresenting its quality). Is the sale still valid, or must he return the money received and take back the object sold? Second, must he ask mechilah from the person he deceived? Third, is there a specific form of teshuvah that he must do to receive atonement for his sin?

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Presented By Rav Chaim Weg

Answer: With regard to the first question, we must first determine if any ona'as mamon took place. Ona'ah is defined as selling an item for more than 1/6 (16%) of the standard price. If the sale did involve ona'ah, the sale is invalid.

If one sold the object at its value or within 16% of that, then ona'ah is not violated. Rather, the question above concerning geneivas da'as is relevant. In such a case, the Taz (C.M. 332) rules that the sale is valid since misrepresentation does not cancel the sale.

For example, if the seller claims that he is selling the item for the same value for which he purchased it, but he actually bought it for much less, then as long as the price was a fair one, the sale takes effect despite the deception. Nevertheless, the seller still violates the prohibition of geneivah, which is an aveirah bein adam l'chaveiro.

For this reason, it would seem that in theory, one would need to ask mechilah from the previous owners for the sin committed.

Nevertheless, the Pischei Choshen says that it is recommended not to ask for mechilah in such a case since the purchaser is currently satisfied with his product. Informing him that he was deceived will only upset him and cause more harm than occurred previously.

This approach parallels the psak of Rav Yisrael Salanter concerning telling lashon hara about another person where that individual is still unaware of what was said about him. In that case as well, Rav Yisrael Salanter rules that one should preferably not ask for mechilah since that will upset the victim even more.

Although informing another about geneivas da'as is not recommended, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach suggests that asking others for mechilah on Erev Yom Kippur in a manner where no particular aveirah is specified would still be effective in cases of geneivas da'as. The same applies to the recitation of Tefillah Zakah before Yom Kippur, where one asks mechilah in a generic manner and declares that he forgives others that wronged him. The reason is that one can assume that mechilah granted at these times is considered sincere with regard to such minor infractions where no real loss occurred. For a more serious offense such as ruining someone's marriage, though, such a request for mechilah would be insufficient, and one would need to ask directly.

Aside from the question of mechilah, which is effective for the bein adam l'chaveiro aspect, geneivas da'as requires teshuvah for violating bein adam l'Makom. To achieve this, one would need to engage in the steps of teshuvah: Confessing the sin (vidui), expressing regret (charatah), and promising never to do it again (kabala al he'asid).