Q&A: A Very Necessary Question
A Very Necessary Question
Question
Peace to the honorable Rabbi,
When I was little I stole many things, and the trait of stealing became ingrained in me and really became part of my very flesh.
The problem is that one day it may come to light, and that would be a very, very great embarrassment.
I want to repent.
I truly regret it, and for a long time now I have not touched anything that does not belong to me.
I just wanted to ask: I stole many things.
A. I am not able to return such a large amount.
B. In some cases I do not remember.
I really feel a guilty conscience about this.
I want to become a great person.
After I damaged the trait of truthfulness, and certainly since I do not have the emotional or physical ability to repair it, can I still become a great God-fearing person and Torah scholar, or is it "over" for me?
Thank you very much, and sorry for the question, but it has been troubling me for a long time!
Answer
If you remember someone from whom you stole, you are obligated to return it to him, and it is highly advisable to confess it to him. If you do not remember from whom you stole, then there is no dilemma about whether to reveal it. In such a case, according to Jewish law, you should donate the amount to public needs. If you cannot, then do what you can. In principle, you need to return everything.