"Yitzi, I'm going to Yerushalayim this morning to visit the Kotel," Shlomo announced to his roommate. "Would you like to join me?" The two had recently come to learn in Israel for the year.
"Sure," said Yitzi. "I haven't been at the Kotel in years!"
"I'd going to stop off in Meah Shearim first," said Shlomo. "I have to bring something to my friend, Reuven, who learns in the Mirrer Yeshiva. We can take a bus there, and then go on to the Kotel."
"Fine," said Yitzi. "I'd like to see Meah Shearim anyway."
The two packed a sefer, some snacks, and small bottles of water and made their way to Yerushalayim. "How much are buses in Yerushalayim?" Yitzi asked.
"A ride costs 6.20 NIS, but there are transfers," Shlomo explained. "In Yerushalayim you get a transfer good for an hour and a quarter from one bus to another."
The bus from Egged Central Bus Station to Mea Shearim took a while to arrive; Yitzi looked at his watch every few minutes. Finally, at 10:15 the bus arrived.
Yitzi and Shlomo got on the bus. They paid the driver and asked him for transfers. Yitzi noticed that the time on the transfer was printed as 10:20, valid until 11:35. "Interesting," he thought. "The clock on the bus seems off by five minutes."
In Mea Shearim they met Reuven. The bought a cake for Shabbos at the bakery and stopped in some seforim stores. Then they went to see the Beis Midrash of the Mirrer Yeshiva.
"It's unbelievable to see so many religious Jews," said Yitzi. "All these Jewish stores! And what an unbelievable Beis Midrash!"
They headed towards the bus stop to the Kotel, when Shlomo's cell phone rang. "Hello!" he said.
"Oh, hi! ... When?.. We were just about to head to the Kotel, but I'll wait...."
"See you soon," he concluded, and shut the phone.
"Who was that?" asked Yitzi.
"My aunt and uncle are here for a week," Shlomo said. "They're on their way now to Meah Shearim and would like to see me. I'll have to go to the Kotel later in the afternoon."
"Oh!" sighed Yitzi. "I would prefer going to the Kotel with someone."
"I'll come with you," said Reuven. "Let me just run back to the Yeshiva and give me a few minutes to get ready. I'll meet you at the bus stop soon."
Reuven headed back to his Yeshiva and Shlomo turned to leave. "Here, take my transfer," he said to Yitzi. "I don't need it; let Reuven use it instead."
Yitzi looked at his watch. It was already past 10:20. "I hope Reuven comes soon," he said to himself, "so that we can use the transfers."
By the time they reached the station, it was already 10:32. Yitzi suddenly thought, "Can I really give Shlomo's transfer to Reuven? And can I still use my transfer? Even though it's printed as 10:35, the hour and a quarter is actually over!"
They bus was about to come; he needed to make a quick decision. Behind him was a distinguished looking rabbinic figure learning patiently while waiting for the bus.
Yitzi turned to him, "Do you speak English?"
'Yes," the Rabbi answered.
Yitzi quickly related the pertinent facts. The rabbi told him: "You can still use your transfer, but you cannot give Shlomo's transfer to his friend. I'll explain to you when we get on the bus."
Yitzi got on the bus and gave the driver the transfer. The driver looked at his watch. "Just made it," he commented. Reuven took out his bus card and the driver punched it.
When they boarded the bus, Yitzi introduced himself to the rabbi. "Nice to meet you," replied the rabbi. "My name is Rabbi Dayan; I came here for a wedding. We'll be able to fulfill belechtecha baderech and learn while traveling to the Kotel."
"Wow!" exclaimed Yitzi. "I've heard a lot about you."
"The principle issue is the intention of the Egged Bus Company," said Rabbi Dayan. "Clearly, the transfer is granted to the passenger to continue his travel. It is not intended to give a free ride to someone who hasn't paid. Even if it would not say 'non-transferable' explicitly - it is still not allowed." (See C.M. Rama 207:4 and 215:8)
"What about having used the transfer just after the hour and a quarter?" asked Yitzi.
"The same principle applies," answered Rabbi Dayan. "Egged Bus Company cannot deal with each individual's watch. They follow the time printed on the transfer, and add a few minutes purposely to avoid complaints. Therefore, you are allowed to use it even if it actually past the hour and a quarter."
"Thank you," said Yitzi. "It was great to meet you in person!"