Ribbis: Matters of Interest

HONORING A PHILANTHROPIC LENDER

May a mechaber (author) honor someone who lent money toward the printing costs of their book, or a yeshivah honor a lender by placing an ad thanking them for their kindness?

Does it make a difference if they do so during the life of the loan or afterward?

Rav
Moshe Feinstein z”l ruled that one may not place such an ad in a sefer or
journal, as it constitutes ribbis devarim.

This
only applies if the words indicate a clear expression of gratitude to the
lender. However, one may word the ad to simply read “The lender will be blessed
by Hashem,” as this is merely stating the true fact that Hashem blesses those
who lend money to the needy, but is not an expression of gratitude.

Some
permit thanking the lender if the lender was also involved in the editing or
other aspect of the printing as well, since the ad will not clearly be in honor
of the loan.

After
the loan has been repaid, it would be permitted to place a regular ad thanking
the lender.