Types of debts remitted at end of shemitah
Question
I bought a present together with someone else at the end of the shemitah year, after I wrote up a prozbul. I paid for the gift, and my friend said he'd pay me back for his portion later on. Now that Rosh Hashanah (5783) has passed, does he still owe me the money, or was this debt canceled?
Answer
The debt is still valid since a loan given without a specified due date is for 30 days. The halachic term for this is stam chov. As this is the case, the debt is due this year (5783), after shemitah, so shemitat kesafim does not apply to it.
Addition by Rav Moshe Bloom:
If the purchase of the gift was before Rosh Chodesh Elul, then the 30 days of repayment of the loan would end before Rosh Hashanah, and then the debt would have been canceled.
Even if the debt was canceled, it is still better to pay it back. When your friend comes with the money to you, you should say: "I remit it." If he still wants to repay you (which is what should be done) you are allowed to accept it.