How many Torah prohibitions does a lender who charges fixed interest violate?
The lender violates six negative commandments drawn from various verses in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
Question 2
Can courts extract Rabbinic 'dust of interest' (avak ribbit) from a lender?
Avak ribbit is forbidden by Rabbinic decree but cannot be expropriated through courts — only Scriptural fixed interest is extractable.
Question 3
If a lender dies before returning fixed interest, what happens?
Money interest need not be returned by heirs, but specific identifiable objects taken as interest must be returned — as an expression of honor for the repentant father.
Question 4
Why is lending money to one's own children at interest forbidden?
Even though the parent will forgive the extra amount, habituation to interest-like transactions is forbidden.
Question 5
Under what conditions may orphan property be invested on a 'near-profit, far-loss' basis?
The Rabbis did not apply their decree against avak ribbit to orphan property given to a trustworthy manager who absorbs all losses personally.