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Being Careful With Other People's Money: Difference between revisions
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Being Careful With Other People's Money (view source)
Revision as of 14:45, 3 February 2019
, 3 February 2019→Other Forms of Stealing
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====Refusing to Pay Workers==== | ====Refusing to Pay Workers==== | ||
see [[Paying Workers on Time]] | see [[Paying Workers on Time]] | ||
===Keeping Money or Merchandise Sent in Error=== | |||
# If a merchant mistakenly gives you extra change you are obligated to give it back. By keeping it, one violates the mitzva of returning a lost item and stealing.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 49</ref> | |||
# Regarding money received in error from an akum, see Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 50<ref>see there note 117</ref> Even in cases where keeping the money or item would not be a technical violation of stealing, if there is a possibility of cuasing a Chilul Hashem, one may certainly not keep it.<Ref>Tur and Rama 348:2, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 50. see there where he relates that Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky zt"l recounted that when he was a Rabbi in Lithuania before World War II, he was asked a question by a resident of his community. The man had purchased stamps from the local post office, and had received more stamps than he had paid for. For such a poor man, the extra stamps were no trifle matter. Nonetheless, Rav Kaminetsky suspected that perhaps the postal clerk was testing the rabbi. This suspicion was confirmed a short time later when the clerk gave him too much change. The rabbi returned the extra money. Many years after the Nazis came and destroyed the community, the rabbi heard that this clerk had saved many Jews, testifying that he tested everybody to assess their honesty, and the only trustworthy people were the Jews!</ref> Even in a case where no chilul Hashem would result, if returning it would create a Kiddush Hashem, it would be a shame to pass up that opportunity.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 51. Yerushalmi Bava Metzia 2:5 relates that Shimon ben Shetach once purchased a donkey. The original owner had neglected to check the saddlebag before he made the sale, and inadvertently left diamonds in the bag. When they discovered the treasure, Shimon ben Shetach’s students were exuberant, for now, they were certain, their teacher would be able to teach Torah without the constant financial worries that had been plaguing him. Shimon ben Shetach did not join in their excitement though. “Do you think I am a barbarian?” he exclaimed “I bought a donkey, not diamonds!” He promptly returned the diamonds. When the owner received them he cried out, “Blessed is the God of Shimon ben Shetach!”</ref> | |||
# If an akum sends you a check that doesn't belong to you at all, it is certainly prohibited to deposit the check.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 50 note 117.</ref> | |||
===Borrowing Without Permission=== | ===Borrowing Without Permission=== | ||
