1)
One who sees a lost object that belongs to another Jew, which has a
Siman (identifiable sign), and turns a blind eye (i.e. acts as if he/she
didn't notice it, and walks away from it without picking it up) has
transgressed the "Lo Ta'aseh", the negative commandment of "...Lo Tir'eh
Es Shor Achicha Oi Es Say'oi Nidachim V'Hisalamta MayHem...do not see
your friend's ox or sheep that are lost and turn a blind eye from
them...(Devarim 22:1 and 3) " (Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 259:1)
Additionally, he/she has lost out on the "Mitzvas Asei", the positive commandment of Hashev Teshivem L'Achicha, return shall you return them to your friend." (Devarim 22:1. See Sefer Hachinuch Mitzvah 538 that this is a reiteration of the Mitzvas Asei found in Shmos 23:4)
Some
Poskim rule that the aforementioned positive commandment has not been
forfeited unless the item was actually picked up and then put down and
not returned. (Opinion of the Meiras Einayim (Sm"a) on the
Shulchan Aruch above. However, most Poskim do not rule this way. See
Rambam Hilchos Geneiva V'Aveida Perek11:1, Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman
259:1 and Taz on the Shulchan Aruch mentioned above.)
2)
If one picked up the lost object with the intent to keep it for
themselves without any thought of returning it to its rightful owner,
they have transgressed the additional negative commandment of "...V'Lo
Tigzol, and you shall not steal" (Vayikra 19:13)( Shulchan Aruch ibid.)
QUESTION&ANSWER CORNER
Reader
Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we
covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
Although
the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei
HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes
only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
QUESTION:
what do the poskim say about putting sefarim on chairs or benches, with or without people sitting on them at the same time?
I
know that the olam is meikel [lenient], but I've known yechidim who are
makpid not to do it, what does the halacha pesuka have to say about it?
ANSWER:
It is prohibited to sit on a chair, bench etc. if Seforim are laying on them.
According to some Poskim, even if the seforim are in a standing position on the chair or bench it is prohibited.
If the Seforim are on something else, that's on the bench,
and thus not on the same level as the person sitting, it may be more
lenient, however it is best to be stringent in all situations as not to
seem like we are being disrespectful to Sifrei Kodesh. (See Ram"a Yoreh
Deah Siman 282:7 and Shach there Os 8 and 9. see also Aruch Hashulchan
Siman 282:12 and Shu"t Avnei Yashfei Siman 1:16).
CHIZUK CORNER
This
section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav
Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal , the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi
Finkel Zatzal and the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Ohr, the great Posek
HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Zatzal.
May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
We
will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to
help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in
heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
Important Numbers
