3,231
edits
Being Careful With Other People's Money: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
Being Careful With Other People's Money (view source)
Revision as of 01:11, 27 May 2019
, 27 May 2019→Returning Stolen Property
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 139: | Line 139: | ||
# This includes returning good that were physically stolen, paying for something that was received and not paid for, repaying a defaulted loan, paying wages that were earned but not paid, returning something that is being held for others, and returning money or merchandise obtained through deception.<ref> Radvaz 2:610, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 85-86 based on Vayikra 5:23 which lists each of these things separately - והשיב את הגזלה אשר גזל או את העשק אשר עשק או את הפקדון אשר הפקד אתו. Radvaz 2:610<br> | # This includes returning good that were physically stolen, paying for something that was received and not paid for, repaying a defaulted loan, paying wages that were earned but not paid, returning something that is being held for others, and returning money or merchandise obtained through deception.<ref> Radvaz 2:610, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 85-86 based on Vayikra 5:23 which lists each of these things separately - והשיב את הגזלה אשר גזל או את העשק אשר עשק או את הפקדון אשר הפקד אתו. Radvaz 2:610<br> | ||
Rav Moshe Feinstein (Shu"t Igrot Moshe CM 1:88) writes that something you attained through deception is like stealing and must be returned or paid for. </ref> | Rav Moshe Feinstein (Shu"t Igrot Moshe CM 1:88) writes that something you attained through deception is like stealing and must be returned or paid for. </ref> | ||
# One should not wait for Yom Kippur to do teshuva for stealing. Rather, one should return it as soon as possible, as the obligation to give it back applies every minute<ref>Mishna Brura 606:2, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 86 </ref> After giving it back, one complete his teshuva by acknowledging that he did the wrong thing and resolving not to do it again.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 86 based on Rambam Hilchot Teshuva 1: | # One should not wait for Yom Kippur to do teshuva for stealing. Rather, one should return it as soon as possible, as the obligation to give it back applies every minute<ref>Mishna Brura 606:2, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 86 </ref> After giving it back, one complete his teshuva by acknowledging that he did the wrong thing and resolving not to do it again.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 86 based on Rambam Hilchot Teshuva 1:1</ref> | ||
===If the Victim is Unaware=== | |||
# If the victim is unaware of the theft, one may return the money without telling the victim.<ref> Shulchan Aruch CM 355:1 </ref> For example, if he took supplies from work, he may anonymously restock the supply. Or if he cheated a customer by billing for items that were not shipped, he may add credits to the account without telling the customer.<Ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 86</ref> Since he didn't cause any anguish to the victim, because the victim didn't know about it, he does not need to ask for forgiveness.<ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 87 based on Igrot Moshe CM 1:88</ref> | |||
# If the victim knows that the item was stolen, but does not know who did it, one may return it without telling. However, in this case one needs to be granted forgiveness for the theft. Therefore, one may ask for forgiveness anonymously. However, it is best if he confesses and apologizes for his wrongdoing rather than hiding his identity.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 87 based on Shulchan Aruch CM 355:1 and Igrot Moshe CM 1:88</ref> | |||
===Victim is Aware=== | |||
# If the victim knows about the theft and knows who took it, the thief must inform the victim that he is returning it, and he must request forgiveness.<ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 88 based on Igrot Moshe CM 1:88</ref> | |||
==Zeh Neheneh Zeh Lo Chaser== | ==Zeh Neheneh Zeh Lo Chaser== | ||
