Q&A: Stealing Election Cameras
Stealing Election Cameras
Question
Is there a halakhic prohibition against stealing from the state? For example, taking for yourself cameras that were used at a polling station.
Suppose there were no halakhic prohibition—would that mean there is indeed no problem at all with doing so, since if it were a problem the Torah would have forbidden it?
Thank you in advance.
Answer
Certainly. It is forbidden to steal public property. That is no different from any other person’s property. Beyond that, it is clear that there are things that Jewish law does not forbid and yet are still improper. The categories of going beyond the letter of the law, the trait of Sodom, “so that you may walk in the way of good people,” “and you shall do what is right and good,” and the like, are all aimed at that.
Thank you very much. I was glad to hear that.