Question: My friend has a minus in her bank account, am I allowed to accept gifts from her like a concert ticket when she won’t let me pay her back?
Answer: The halacha allows to receive a gift from a friend even if she does not have extra money, because sometimes accepting the gift benefits from the gift giver, makes her feel she can give and give. However, since she has no money, you must be careful not to receive large gifts from her, but rather symbolic gifts that your acceptance gives her the feeling of giving like a ticket to a concert, and so on.’.
In any case, you have to explain to her that gifts are mutual, and you don’t like to accept if she doesn’t get gifts back from you.
But if you know that she borrowed money from the bank or elsewhere without knowing where to return from, you will not be allowed to take any gift from her.
Well done for your sensitivity to your friend, strong and adoptive.
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