Q. A local orthodox shul had an annual membership special for new members, 1st year half price off regular fees, 2nd year, 25% off regular fees and 3rd year full fees.  Can a new board of directors cancel the deal and demand full payment, if the person joined the shul because of the reduced fees in the 1st and 2nd year, and now is required to pay full fees, while still in the 1st or 2nd year of the reduced membership dues?, no contract was signed, it was noted in the shul’s invoicing for dues and was agreed upon by the prospective member (now member) and an official of the shul, who is no longer employed by the shul?

A. In principle, the shul has to comply to the commitment they advertised to prospective members. However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s position is always to abstain from advising or ruling on monetary issues without listening to the claims and arguments of both sides first, as most often there is at least two sides to every story.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a.