Q&A: Returning Stolen Property — Is It a Necessary Condition for Repentance for Theft?
Returning Stolen Property — Is It a Necessary Condition for Repentance for Theft?
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is the commandment of returning stolen property a necessary condition for repenting for theft, or is it simply a commandment that applies only if I previously stole from someone?
Intuitively, I would say that without returning the stolen property, there is no genuine remorse on the part of the thief, and consequently there is no repentance.
But then returning the stolen property is not a necessary condition for repentance, but only a sign that the remorse is insufficient, while the remorse itself is the necessary condition.
What do you think?
Answer
I didn’t understand what the two sides are. In both of them you’re saying that returning the stolen property is necessary, and that it indicates repentance; without it there is no genuine remorse.