Activities people don't think of as transgressions

Hi,

There are five activities for which people are not likely to repent, because people do not view them as transgressions:

1. Participating a meal when the host does not have enough for himself; people believe this is fine because they have the host's permission. This is quasi-theft;

2. Using a pauper's collateral, which the pauper needs;

3. Gazing at someone with whom sexual relations are prohibited;

4. Receiving honour by looking good in comparison with someone else, causing the other one to be disgraced and embarrassed;

5. Suspecting those who are innocent of wrongdoing.

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 4:4)

גמר חתימה טובה,

Mordechai

Taking payment to recite kaddish

Hi,

One who is hired to recite kaddish for someone who passes away may accept multiple such "jobs". Each kaddish recitation should be assigned to a particular person for whom kaddish is recited, and at least one kaddish per day should be recited for each of them. Ideally, one should record which kaddish is recited for which person.
 
Note that the person reciting kaddish must notify his employer that he is only reciting one kaddish per day for that particular person, since the employer might have assumed differently. Otherwise, this could be theft.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:254)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

A coatroom swap

Hi,

I took the wrong coat from the shul coatroom, and when I came back mine was gone. May I wear the coat I took incorrectly, temporarily?

One who accidentally takes the wrong coat in shul, and then returns to find that his own coat is gone, may not continue to use the coat he took; perhaps a third party took his coat. Rather, one must seek the rightful owner of the coat he took. Further: Party A who used Party B's coat must offer to pay for that benefit, unless it turns out that Party B was using Party A's coat simultaneously.

It would be good for communities to implement a formal policy allowing people to use coats or boots taken by accident until the owner could be identified.

(Bava Basra 46a; Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 136:2; Aruch haShulchan Choshen Mishpat 136:2; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:9:7; Mishneh Halachos 5:276)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The return of a stolen item

Hi,

One who hears that a thief who stole from him has been caught should not recite the blessing for hearing good news; one does not recite the blessing until the stolen goods are returned, making the news more tangible.

(Mishneh Berurah 222:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Benefiting from stolen goods

Hi,

One may not knowingly benefit from the dishonesty of others.

For example, one may not purchase an item that he knows to be stolen. Further, one may not purchase anything from, or accept a gift from, a person who is a known thief, lest he unknowingly accept benefit from stolen property.

(Code of Jewish Law Choshen Mishpat 369:1, 3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Borrowing and Theft, Part II

Hi,

We have said that one may not borrow an object without informing the owner. The same is true regarding 'borrowing' something as a practical joke, whether intended to irritate or just to have fun; this constitutes theft in Jewish law.

(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 348:1)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Borrowing vs. Stealing

Hi,

"Borrowing" means that there is an agreement between two parties (ie Bill and Darla) that Bill will use some entity owned by Darla.

Having that agreement is essential. If Bill were to borrow Darla's item without telling her, even with plans to return it immediately, that would constitute theft.

(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 348:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai