3,231
edits
Returning Lost Objects: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Lost Object of a non-Jew
No edit summary |
|||
| (6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
# There's an obligation to return the lost object of a Jew once one sees it within a distance of 266.67 [[amot]]. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 259:! Brings the negative commandment not to pick up a fellow Jew's lost object. Shulchan Aruch C"M 272:5 rules that there's a mitzvah of [[carrying]] and picking up a fellow's animal and its burden up to a distance of 266 and 2/3 [[amot]]. The Bach C"M 259 writes that since [[carrying]] a fellow's burden and picking up his lost object are learned from one another there's an obligation to pick up a lost object if one sees it up to an distance of 266.67 [[amot]]. </ref> | # There's an obligation to return the lost object of a Jew once one sees it within a distance of 266.67 [[amot]]. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 259:! Brings the negative commandment not to pick up a fellow Jew's lost object. Shulchan Aruch C"M 272:5 rules that there's a mitzvah of [[carrying]] and picking up a fellow's animal and its burden up to a distance of 266 and 2/3 [[amot]]. The Bach C"M 259 writes that since [[carrying]] a fellow's burden and picking up his lost object are learned from one another there's an obligation to pick up a lost object if one sees it up to an distance of 266.67 [[amot]]. </ref> | ||
==Who is Obligated== | ==Who is Obligated?== | ||
# Men and women alike are obligated in the mitzva of Hashavat Aveda.<ref> Sefer Hachinuch Mitzva 538 based on Gemara Kiddushin 34a, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 138</ref> | # Men and women alike are obligated in the mitzva of Hashavat Aveda.<ref> Sefer Hachinuch Mitzva 538 based on Gemara Kiddushin 34a, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 138</ref> | ||
==Where was it | ==Where was it Found?== | ||
# If one would attempt to return an item that was placed there intentionally, one could be hurting the owner rather than helping. If it is an item that has so simanim, then he won't be able to retrieve it, and even if it has simanim, it could be he wanted it there and now will have to chase you to get it back.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 260:9, Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 144</ref> Therefore, if an item seems to have fallen, it is obviously a lost item. On the other hand, it if seems to have been placed or hidden, it might not be considered lost.<ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg. 144</ref> Therefore, this would depend on where it is found. see the following halachot: | # If one would attempt to return an item that was placed there intentionally, one could be hurting the owner rather than helping. If it is an item that has so simanim, then he won't be able to retrieve it, and even if it has simanim, it could be he wanted it there and now will have to chase you to get it back.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 260:9, Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 144</ref> Therefore, if an item seems to have fallen, it is obviously a lost item. On the other hand, it if seems to have been placed or hidden, it might not be considered lost.<ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg. 144</ref> Therefore, this would depend on where it is found. see the following halachot: | ||
# If the object was found in a safe protected place, it can be assumed that the item was placed there by its owner and so the object is not considered lost and should not be touched.<ref>Rama 260:10 based on Baba Metzia 25b, Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 145</ref> If one by accident picked it up, one should return it right away, but if one has left the area one may not return it but rather one must return the object. <Ref>Rama and S”A C”M 260:9-10, Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 145</ref> For example, if one found a key under a mat or a book on top of a public telephone booth, one shouldn’t pick up the object. <ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 146</ref> | # If the object was found in a safe protected place, it can be assumed that the item was placed there by its owner and so the object is not considered lost and should not be touched.<ref>Rama 260:10 based on Baba Metzia 25b, Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 145</ref> If one by accident picked it up, one should return it right away, but if one has left the area one may not return it but rather one must return the object. <Ref>Rama and S”A C”M 260:9-10, Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 145</ref> For example, if one found a key under a mat or a book on top of a public telephone booth, one shouldn’t pick up the object. <ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 146</ref> | ||
# If an item is found in a unsafe place, the item is considered a lost object, even if it was clearly placed their intentionally.<ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 146 based on Rama 260:10</ref> For example, a book on a public bus station bench. <Ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 146</ref> | # If an item is found in a unsafe place, the item is considered a lost object, even if it was clearly placed their intentionally.<ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 146 based on Rama 260:10</ref> For example, a book on a public bus station bench. <Ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 146</ref> | ||
# If an item is found in a semi-safe place, if the item has a siman then the item is considered a lost object. An example is a sweater draped over a park railing in a remote area of the park. <Ref> Rama C”M 260:10, Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 147-8) </ref> | # If an item is found in a semi-safe place, if the item has a siman then the item is considered a lost object. An example is a sweater draped over a park railing in a remote area of the park. <Ref> Rama C”M 260:10, Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 147-8) </ref> | ||
# If the object is found in a place where it is irretrievable, such as if someone fell into the ocean, it’s assumed that the owner forfeited ownership and it is permissible to take and keep it. <ref> Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 154-5) </ref> | |||
# If the | ===Cannot be Retrieved=== | ||
# If the item falls into a place where it will not under normal circumstances be recovered (such as lost in the ocean), it becomes hefker. Someone who finds it would be allowed to keep it.<ref>Baba Metzia 22a, Shulchan Aruch 259:7, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 154</ref> This is true even if the owner announces that he is not relinquishing ownership.<ref> Rosh Baba Metzia 2:2, Shulchan Aruch 259:7, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 154 </ref> Nevertheless, the good and right thing to do would be to return it.<ref>Rama 259:7, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 155 </ref> | |||
==Worth a | ==Worth a Perutah== | ||
# There isn't a mitzvah to return an object worth less than a Perutah. For the purpose of this halacha, in America, one can consider the perutah to be a quarter | # There isn't a mitzvah to return an object worth less than a Perutah. <Ref> Shulchan Aruch 259:2 and 262:1 based on Gemara Baba Metzia 27a, Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 149. see note 33 there that if the item is worth more than that to the one who lost, Rav Moshe Feinstein holds that the item must be returned </ref> Therefore, one who finds such an item may leave it or keep it.<Ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 149</ref> | ||
# For the purpose of this halacha, in America, one can consider the perutah to be a quarter, as it is the lowest denomination coin that is useable for buying something.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 149-150 writes that in America in the year when the sefer was published in 5763 (2003) a dime could hardly purchase anything and certainly pennies and nickels cannot, so a quarter would be the minimum required to return</ref> | |||
==Forfeiture== | ==Forfeiture== | ||
# If the owner | # If the owner of an item gives up on ever getting it back, that is considered a forfeiture of the object and it’s permissible to take and keep it.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch C”M 262:5 based on Gemara Baba Metzia 23a, Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner), pg. 151. </ref> That can happen in the following ways: | ||
# There is a mitzvah to return a lost object to someone who passed away by returning it to the inheritors of a deceased person. <ref>Avi Bezri Hashavat Aveidah p. 22 fnt. 7 says it is obvious that there's an obligation to return a lost object to the inheritors of the | ## The owner says explicitly that he has given up hope.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch CM 262:5, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 152. see there note F, that if the finder wishes to be good and upright, he should go beyond the letter of the law and give it back if he knows who the owner is </ref> This is true even if the item has simanim.<ref> Shulchan Aruch CM 262:5, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 152 </ref> | ||
##Similarly, if it’s evident that the object has been lost for a long time such as if one sees moss or rust on the object, then it’s permissible to take and keep the object. <Ref>S”A C”M 260:1 based on Gemara Baba Metzia 23b, Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg. 153). see there where he writes that Shulchan Aruch did not define the exact time because it will depend on the time, place and object, and adds that Pitchei Choshen 2:note 26 and Rav Elyashiv (cited in Hashavat Aveda Kehalacha 5: note 2) agree</ref> This is true even if the item has identifying simanim.<ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 153 note H. see there note J, that if the finder wishes to be good and upright, he should go beyond the letter of the law and give it back if he knows who the owner is</ref> | |||
## Also, if an item without identifying features is lost, a person does not expect to get it back. When he discovers that it is lost, he will give up on it and it will automatically be forfeited.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 154 </ref> This isn't true in a place where there are talmidei chachamim.<ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 154 </ref> | |||
# There is a mitzvah to return a lost object to someone who passed away by returning it to the inheritors of a deceased person. <ref>Avi Bezri Hashavat Aveidah p. 22 fnt. 7 says it is obvious that there's an obligation to return a lost object to the inheritors of the deceased if he was the owner of the lost object.</ref> | |||
== | ==Simanim== | ||
# If an object has no identifying feature, then it is assumed that the owner has given up hope of finding the object and therefore has forfeited ownership of it. Therefore, one may take and keep the object. <Ref> Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 154) </ref> | # If an object has no identifying feature, then it is assumed that the owner has given up hope of finding the object and therefore has forfeited ownership of it. Therefore, one may take and keep the object. <Ref> Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 154) </ref> | ||
# The siman must be a unique feature and not a generic characteristic. <Ref>Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 160 note 79) </ref> | # The siman must be a unique feature and not a generic characteristic. <Ref>Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 160 note 79) </ref> | ||
| Line 44: | Line 50: | ||
# In a place where Talmidei Chachamim are present one must pick up even an item without Simanim and announce it like a regular lost object because a Talmid Chacham (who is known not to lie) is trusted to recognize his object without any Simanim unless the item is brand new in which case it’s treated like an item without simanim in a place without Talmidei Chachamim. <Ref> Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 171-2)</ref> | # In a place where Talmidei Chachamim are present one must pick up even an item without Simanim and announce it like a regular lost object because a Talmid Chacham (who is known not to lie) is trusted to recognize his object without any Simanim unless the item is brand new in which case it’s treated like an item without simanim in a place without Talmidei Chachamim. <Ref> Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 171-2)</ref> | ||
==Lost | ==Lost Object of a non-Jew== | ||
# | # Technically, there’s no Mitzvah to return a lost object to a non-Jew, and some say that there’s a prohibition. <Ref>Tur and S”A C”M 266:1 rule based on Gemara Baba Kama 113b that there’s no mitzvah to return the lost object of a non-Jew and there’s even a prohibition. The Beit Yosef there writes that according to Rashi the problem is that by returning an item to a non-Jew, you are showing that you don't perform Hashavat Aveda as a commandment of Hashem, because you are retruning to a non-Jew which you aren't commanded to. On the other hand, the Rambam writes that returning such an object would be strengthening the hands of a sinner. The Be'er HaGolah 266:2 writes that according to Rashi this prohibition would apply even to non-Jews nowadays but according to the Rambam then there’s no prohibition to non-Jews nowadays who believe in a Creator and are law abiding citizens. Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 153) holds that there’s no prohibition nowadays. However, Hashava Aviedah KeHalacha (2:1 pg 33) writes that nowadays there’s a prohibition like S”A. </ref> However, all agree that if one returns it with intention to make a Kiddush Hashem then it’s permissible and praiseworthy to return the object. <ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 156. S”A C”M 266:1 writes that if one has intent to make a Kiddush Hashem then it’s totally permissible and praiseworthy to return the lost object. Hashava Aviedah KeHalacha (2:2 pg. 33) writes that it’s only permissible and praiseworthy if one is sure that returning it will result in Kiddush Hashem because the owner will praise Jews and not just the one who returned it (and if it’s a doubt one should refrain). see [http://www.torahmusings.com/2014/05/hashavat-aveida-a-kiddush-hashem/ Rabbi Aharon Ziegler] who quotes Rabbi Soloveitchik on the importance of returning a lost object to a non-Jew in fulfillment of the precious mitzvah of kiddush Hashem. see also [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/865907/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/ten-minute-halacha-hashavas-aveida-to-a-nochri/ Ten Minute Halacha: Hashavas Aveida to a nochri] by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz </ref> | ||
# Additionally, all agree that if a Chilul Hashem will result then there’s an obligation to return the object. <Ref>S”A C”M 266:1 </ref> | # Additionally, all agree that if a Chilul Hashem will result then there’s an obligation to return the object. <Ref>S”A C”M 266:1 </ref> | ||
# An item that was lost in an area with mostly non-Jews, is presumed to belong to a non-Jew and may be kept.<ref> Shulchan Aruch 259:3, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 156</ref> Nevertheless, if a Jew proves that it is his, if one wishes to be upright and good, he should go beyond the letter of the law and give it back.<ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 156-157 based on Shulchan Aruch 259:5 </ref> | |||
# If circumstances indicate that the non-Jew placed or hid that item there it may not be taken.<ref> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 155 based on Netivot Hamishpat 260:4</ref> | |||
# A Jewish apikores would have the status of a non-Jew for this halacha.<Ref> Shulchan Aruch 266:2, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 155. see there note 61 for how this would apply nowadays considering that many people are unfortunately not fully observant</ref> | |||
==In an | ==In an Institution== | ||
# It’s appropriate that the administration of a public establishment put up a sign or made an announcement that will let those who go there that if objects are left there until a certain date the establishment will do as they see fit with the objects. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A C”M 259,271 #28) </ref> | # It’s appropriate that the administration of a public establishment put up a sign or made an announcement that will let those who go there that if objects are left there until a certain date the establishment will do as they see fit with the objects. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A C”M 259,271 #28) </ref> | ||
==If | ==If It’s not Befitting to Return a Lost Object== | ||
# For a respected or elderly individual, if it’s not befitting to pick up and return a lost object then one is exempt from the mitzvah and doesn’t have to pick up the object. <ref>S”A C”M 263:1 </ref> | # For a respected or elderly individual, if it’s not befitting to pick up and return a lost object then one is exempt from the mitzvah and doesn’t have to pick up the object. <ref>S”A C”M 263:1 </ref> | ||
## If the individual would not have picked his own item in such a situation, then one is exempt. <ref>S”A C”M 263:1 </ref> | ## If the individual would not have picked his own item in such a situation, then one is exempt. <ref>S”A C”M 263:1 </ref> | ||
