Shavuot and Jewish Learning

Host Josh_Kulp says:
Here is an example. Barb, if you find a pair of sunglasses on the beach, what do you have to do with those sunglasses. For sure they do not belong to you. But do you have to chase down every person on the beach to try to find the owner of the sunglasses. Also, if it becomes obvious that you will never be able to find the person, what do you then do with the object.

BarbO says:
I would ask people nearby, and then turn them in to a lost and found department.

Host Josh_Kulp says:
What does the lost and found department do with the sunglasses after a year? To whom do they belong?

BarbO says:
My suggestion would be to donate them to charity.

Hud says:
If no one claims them, perhaps it is a sign that they don't really miss them.

Host Josh_Kulp says:
The rabbis wanted to accomplish two goals. One was to make sure that as many people as possible could get back their lost items. Their other goal was to not make a person trouble himself to a tremendous degree for something that could not be returned. In order to do that, they decided that when a person loses certain items they give up hope in getting them back. Once they give up hope, they have now renounced ownership and the item can belong to anyone who finds it. Any questions about that?

BarbO says:
How do we know the item's owner has given up hope?

Host Josh_Kulp says:
Barb, you ask a very good question. :-) (sidenote - when a rabbi says "you asked a very good question" - he usually means he does not have a very good answer) <vbg>

BarbO says:
lol

Host Josh_Kulp says:
but I will try anyway. In any legal system, one must quantify abstract qualities. Obviously, different people will think different things when they lose items. For instance, if someone drops a twenty dollar bill. Most people will not bother looking on a street for it because they assume someone would find it and take it. However, one of my students claimed he would walk at least 1/2 hour to find a 20 shekels (1/3 of $20). So, for him, the moment of giving up hope was much later. In order to standardize the whole process, the rabbis decided that anything without an identifying mark, a person would give up hope immediately.

aka says:
What if there is some type of mark, but not identifiable to me?

Host Josh_Kulp says:
Another interesting item is the Torah tells you to return lost items. How far does that responsibility go? Do you have to prevent the loss of an item from your friend.

Shlomoh says:
Yes

Host Josh_Kulp says:
For instance, your friend's house is by the river. And you see the river rising. Are you commanded to go into his house and start rescuing his property?

Dori says:
You help your friend, out of goodness

BarbO says:
I would think rescuing humans is more important

Shlomoh says:
probably try to help build a levee

Dori says:
yes, but if he needed help, you would help him

aka says:
yes

Host Josh_Kulp says:
The question is not "Should you rescue your friend's property?" Everyone agrees that you should. The question is "do you have to" or "is it a Torah commanded responsibility"

BarbO says:
one of the 613?

Shlomoh says:
I believe it is

Host Josh_Kulp says:
and what are the consequences for not rescuing?

Host Josh_Kulp says:
Yes, Barb, returning lost items is one of the 613 mitzvoth.