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Being Careful With Other People's Money: Difference between revisions
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# 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> | # 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> | # 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> | ||
===Chamas (Stealing but Paying for it)=== | |||
# Taking an item against the owner's will, but paying for it, is another form of stealing, referred to by Chazal as Chamas.<ref>Tur and Shulchan Aruch CM 359:9 based on Gemara Baba Kama 62a, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 75.<br> | |||
* Tosafot Baba Kama 62a "Chamsan" point out that although one is not in violation of gezel on a torah level but only on a rabbinic level, he is still in violation of lo tachmod on a torah level. This is brought as halacha by the Sma 359:14, and Beit Shmuel EH 28:2</ref> | |||
===Borrowing without Permission=== | ===Borrowing without Permission=== | ||
