On the return of a loss
Hello Rabbi,
Continuing your lesson on rights and obligations in halacha, where you said that the laws that appear in the Choshen Mishpat are usually obligations that arise by virtue of another’s right. The laws of Shabbat Avida appear in the Choshen Mishpat. I asked if Shabbat Avida is indeed an obligation that arises by virtue of a right? If so, can society decide that it is forfeiting this right and abolishing the mitzvah of Shabbat Avida? Also, should Shabbat Avida be enforced?
I thought that perhaps the commandment of restitution of a lost thing should be divided into two parts: “You shall not ignore” and “You shall not return them.” As for “You shall not ignore” it seems to me that this part is an obligation that does not arise from a right, whereas after you have already taken the lost thing, the obligation to return it to its rightful owners is an obligation that arises from a right (You shall return them). Since these two parts are related to each other, both were included in the Hoshen Mishpat (even though “You shall not ignore” is an obligation that does not arise from a right).
What do you think?
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The Rabbi of Holin brings a disagreement among the Rishonim regarding doubts in the commandments of Peah and Tzedakah - whether they are generally mammon that suffices for the kola or whether they are beyond mammon and their doubt is material…
On the issues of doubt in the recovery of a loss (doubt regarding despair in the Mechanishta of Debi Derri, and regarding the form of assuming the loss as being a sign, and doubt regarding Hinokh), the Gra in his explanation links the disagreement of the Rishonim regarding whether one should be stricter or more lenient with Rabbi of Holin… meaning that they disagreed on this very point
And I also remember in the Rabbinical Book of the Law on the Right to Charity and other sufficiency there. But I don't think that's our subject, at least not necessarily. Because there the question is whether the wealth resulted from the prohibition or vice versa. Here the question is whether there is wealth at all or is it all a prohibition.
Following on from this question, regarding the issue of coercion in the mitzvot of Shabbat Avidah and the mitzvot "Thou shalt not stand for the blood of thy neighbor," should these mitzvot be coerced like all the mitzvot that arise from the right of another? I remember that you once spoke out against the law "Thou shalt not stand for the blood of thy neighbor" because it takes a halakhic obligation that is not enforced, and turns it into a coercive obligation.
Indeed, you shall not stand for the blood of your neighbor is not the right of another person but my duty. Although the Rishaba cited above means otherwise.
Although the restoration of a seemingly lost thing must be discussed, since it is the property of another person and a person certainly has a right to his property. On the other hand, I do not lose it but only prevent its loss. Therefore, even if the other person has a right to the property, it is clear that he does not have a right to my work. The duty of restoration and the prohibition of ignoring are my duties towards him and not his right. The right to the property itself (before he despairs) is his. In other words: failure to restore a loss is not theft.
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