8
edits
Returning Lost Objects: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
m
no edit summary
Ggoldstein96 (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The Torah commands us to return lost objects | The Torah commands us to return the lost objects and prevent a lost of our fellow Jew. <ref> Sefer Hachinuch Mitzva 538, Rambam Sefer Hamitzvot Mitzvot Aseh Mitzva 204, Sefer Mitzvot Hakatzar of the Chofetz Chaim of mitzvot that can be fulfilled today mitzva 69 in positive mitzvot. see the second perek of Masechet Bava Metzia and Rambam Hilchot Gezela chapters 11 and onward. </ref> In general, if there’s an identifying mark of the lost object then there’s an obligation to return the object of our fellow Jew by safeguarding it, publicizing the loss of the object, and making sure that the rightful owner receives his object. Being that many of the these cases involve intricate details that aren’t addressed below, in a real case, one should consult a competent rabbinic authority for guidance. | ||
==Torah Obligation== | ==Torah Obligation== | ||
# When a person encounters a lost object and | # When a person encounters a lost object and doesn't pick it up in order to return it, one violates the negative commandment not to overlook the object, and some say that one also loses the positive commandment to pick up and return the object. If one picks up the object in order to steal it one also violates three commands altogether, overlooking the object, not picking it up, and stealing it. <Ref> The Taz 259:1 holds that if one doesn’t pick up a lost object one has lost both the positive and negative commandment of [[Hashavat Aveidah]] and Lo Titalem. However, the Sma 259:1 holds that there’s only a violation of Lo Titalem for overlooking a lost object. S”A 259:1 writes clearly if one picks up the object to steal it, there’s a violation of both the positive and negative command as well as Lo Tigzol. </ref> | ||
# The Mitzvah to return someone’s object includes a command to prevent someone’s loss. <Ref> Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 142) based on S”A 259:9</ref> | # The Mitzvah to return someone’s object includes a command to prevent someone’s loss. <Ref> Mamon Yisrael (Halachos of Others People’s Money by Rav Pinchas Bodner, pg 142) based on S”A 259:9</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> S"A 259:! Brings the negative commandment not to pick up a fellow Jew's lost object. S"A 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> S"A 259:! Brings the negative commandment not to pick up a fellow Jew's lost object. S"A 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> | ||
