Returning Lost Objects: Difference between revisions

   

==Torah Obligation==

The Taz 259:1 holds that if one does not pick up a lost object one has lost both the positive and negative commandment of [[Hashavat Aveidah]] and Lo Tuchal Lehitalem. However, the Sma 259:1 holds that there’s only a violation of Lo Tuchal Lehitalem for overlooking a lost object. </ref> 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>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>

==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>

==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 no 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 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>

===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 Perutah==

==Forfeiture==

#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 Bodner), pg. 151. </ref> That can happen in the following ways:

##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>

==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 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 Bodner, pg. 160). see there note 79 where he entertains the possibility that nowadays where so many products look the same, if you find an item that isn't so expensive you should return it with just a generic characteristic because people who lose items would want it that way. </ref>  

==Items without Simanim==

Background: Baba Metzia 21b records a dispute regarding an item that is lost and the owner is not yet aware. Rava says that if a person loses something without realizing it, but once they do realize it, will give up looking for it and deem it owner-less, then the person who finds it can keep it. Abaye holds that he may not because Yiush shelo midaat, is not yiush, meaning it is not considered as if he gave up on finding the item until he is actually aware that it is lost. Shulchan Aruch rules in accordance with Abaye, as this is on the list of יע״ל קג״ם (Baba Metzia 22b) which the gemara says is the list of opinions of which we hold like Abaye against Rava. Shu"t Igrot oshe OC 1:184 for his explanation of the dispute surrounding yiush shelo midaat. </ref> If someone picked it up before the owner was aware of its loss, he would be obligated to return it, even if the owner subsequently gives up on finding it. Since he cannot identify the owner, he must keep it until Eliyahu Hanavi comes and tells him whose it is.<ref>Shulchan Aruch CM 262:3, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 166. </ref> This is true even if one is not sure whether the owner was aware of the loss or not.<ref>Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 167 based on Taz 262:3 who quotes the Maggid Mishne (Gezela Va'aveda 14:5) who writes that even if there is a safek if the owner is aware or not, you would need to be strict.</ref>

#If you encounter an item with so Simanim, but you are not sure if the owner is aware of the loss, some poskim say that the finder doesn't have to pick it up.<ref>Rav Elyashiv (cited in Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 170 note 117) based on Rabbi Akiva Eiger (Derush ViChiddush Baba Metzia 21b "Omnam Yesh Lomar" </ref> Others say that the owner must pick it up and hold it until Eliyahu comes and discloses who the owner is.<ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe CM 2:45) and Chazon Ish (cited in Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 170 note 118) based on S"A Harav Hilchot Metzia Halacha 2</ref> Rav Moshe Feinstein explains that holding an item until Eliyahu comes does not literally mean you need to guard it forever, but rather after a long enough time (all three regalim) has passed and no one has claimed it, you can write down in a safe notebook the exact value of the item and all its attributes, and then use the item for yourself. If Eliyahu later tells you who the item belonged to based on the attributes and value, then you can pay the original owner.<ref>Igros Moshe CM 2:45, at the end.</ref>

#For example, Rav Moshe Feinstein writes that helping another Jew contest zoning issues that are hurting the value of their property.<ref>Shu"t Igrot Moshe CM 2:22, cited by Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 142</ref>

#If one sees water causing damage to another person's property, he is obligated to prevent further loss.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 259:9, Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 142</ref> However, if the owner is aware of what is happening and chooses not to address it, you would not be obligated to minimize his loss.<ref>Halachos of Others People’s Money pg. 142</ref>

==Links==

==Sources==

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