Q&A: Returning a Lost Item
Returning a Lost Item
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I study at an academic institution, and I found a key in one of the classrooms that someone had lost between the desks.
I wanted to ask whether it is permissible to hang it on a sheet of paper at the entrance to the classroom so that someone will find it, even though it is possible that someone else will take it. And they will probably throw away the notice with the key after a short time.
Or is it better for me to keep it with me, but the problem is that most likely here too they will take down the notices I hang up after a short time.
Or is it better to leave it where it was? (Even though it will be hard to find it.) Or to “just” improve its location and put it on top of the table (but probably here too they will throw it away after a short time)?
What is the Jewish law in such a case? Because every option here has a lot of drawbacks…
Answer
Simply speaking, this is a lost item with an identifying mark, since the key is unique and opens a particular lock. If it is a regular door key, the loss is not all that great and it is possible that the owner has despaired of recovering it, but even so it is preferable to return it. Since it has no value to anyone else, I think there is no concern that someone would take it in order to steal. Still, if they are likely to remove the notice and the key, it is better to hang up a notice and keep the key with you.
Isn’t there a security department responsible for lost items on campus? The best option is to bring it to them.
Discussion on Answer
Why is that not reasonable?
Beyond that, you can ask about the place where it was lost (in Jewish law, location counts as an identifying mark under certain circumstances), the color and shape of the key, and so on.
I think that here, if necessary, one can forgo identifying marks, since no one has any incentive to take a key that will not help him.
Thank you very much, I posted a notice. By the way, this is not a key of the familiar kind, like a house key, but a small one. Maybe it opens an electric bicycle?
So I wanted to ask what identifying marks I can ask about regarding a key. If I even need to ask at all? After all, most keys look the same. And to ask someone to show that it opens the lock does not sound reasonable to me…