Responsa for Berakhot 32:6
וכשמת טבי עבדו קבל עליו תנחומין אמרו לו תלמידיו למדתנו רבינו שאין מקבלין תנחומין על העבדים אמר להם אין טבי עבדי כשאר כל העבדים כשר היה
When his slave, Tabi, died, lie accepted condolence on his behalf. His disciples said to him, "Our master ! Thou hast taught us that one may not accept condolence on the death of slaves" ! He replied, "My slave, Tabi, was not like other slaves; he was a worthy man."
Teshuvot Maharam
Q. A and his wife drew up a document for the benefit of her son (A's stepson), in which was written: "Give to our son…" Does the expression "our son" invalidate the document since the beneficiary is not A's son?
A. A person who brings up an orphan in his house is in the same position as the orphan's father. Therefore, the phrase "our son" is quite appropriate. Moreover, the phrase in the document "to our mother so and so the daughter of so and so"… referring to A's mother-in-law, does not invalidate that part of the document as long as the name of the mother-in-law is given. For the term "son" or "mother" is an affectionate expression correctly used in this sense even when such relationship does not exist.
SOURCES: L. 242; Tesh. Maim. to Mishpatim 48. Cf. Maharil, Responsa 81.
A. A person who brings up an orphan in his house is in the same position as the orphan's father. Therefore, the phrase "our son" is quite appropriate. Moreover, the phrase in the document "to our mother so and so the daughter of so and so"… referring to A's mother-in-law, does not invalidate that part of the document as long as the name of the mother-in-law is given. For the term "son" or "mother" is an affectionate expression correctly used in this sense even when such relationship does not exist.
SOURCES: L. 242; Tesh. Maim. to Mishpatim 48. Cf. Maharil, Responsa 81.
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