Q&A: Buying a Second-Hand Book with Concern About Theft
Buying a Second-Hand Book with Concern About Theft
Question
Hello dear Rabbi Michi,
There is a used bookstore selling second-hand books, and one of the books has written on the first page: "Belongs to Kibbutz X Library." Is it permissible to buy this book for myself, or would I then be obligated to return a lost item?
Thank you in advance,
With the blessing that you continue to live a life of fruitful creativity,
and thank you for your ideas, which have changed my spiritual life.
Answer
I don’t think there is reason to be concerned about theft. Presumably the book left the kibbutz library in a legitimate way, as happens in many libraries. There is a presumption of propriety that the book was not stolen. In any case, there is also owner’s despair, change of possession, and the market regulation, so one can certainly be lenient.
Ah, and thanks for the good wishes.