Today's Halachos are dedicated in honor of daily reader, C.S., with extreme thanksgiving to Hashem, Who heals all flesh and is wondrous in His acts.
HODU LASHEM KI TOV, KI L'OLAM CHASDO
Current Topic:
Halachos of Hashovas Aveidah
1)
If a Talmid Chacham, respectable elderly person or another respectable
person who isn't obligated to pick up, carry and return a lost item,
wants to go beyond the letter of the law and return it anyhow, according
to some Poskim he may do so, as although it is indeed beneath his
dignity it isn't an affront to the honor of the Torah as he is doing so
L'Sheim Shamayim in order to fulfill the command of Hashem.
(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 263:3 based on opinion of the
Rambam Hilchos Gezeila V'Aveida perek 11 halacha 17. See also Bais Yosef
on the Tur end of Siman 263)
2)
However, some Poskim prohibit a Talmid Chacham from returning an object
if doing so is beneath his dignity, as although a Talmid Chacham may be
Mochel, forgo, on his own honor, he may not forgo on Bizayon HaTorah,
disgrace of the Torah. (Rama ibid. based on the opinion of the
Rosh Bava Metzia Perek 2 Siman 21 and also quoted in Tur Choshen Mishpat
beginning of Siman 272. See also Prisha Siman 272 Os 9. This does not
apply to a respectable elderly person or another respectable person, as
all agree that they may return the item if they so desire, as by them
there isn't an issue of Bizayon HaTorah. See Aruch HaShulchan Siman
263:4)
According
to the opinions that forbid him from returning the item, if he still
wants to go beyond the letter of the law, if he knows who the owner of
the lost object is, he can pay the owner its value in lieu of
returning the actual item. (Rama ibid.)
QUESTION&ANSWER CORNER
Reader
Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we
covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
Although
the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei
HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes
only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
QUESTION:
I was
wondering if it is permissible to make a bracha when hearing thunder,
even without seeing lightning? Are the two brachos dependent on one
another?
ANSWER:
Ideally, the Bracha
on lightning (Oseh Ma'asei Bereishis) should be made first and then the
Bracha on thunder (SheKocho U'gevuraso Malei Olam).
However, if thunder
is heard and no lightning is seen, the Bracha can be made on the
thunder, and then if lightning is seen afterwards, its bracha can be
made.
If
the thunder was heard and the lightning was seen simultaneously, one
Bracha of Osei Ma'aseh Beraishis is recited on both. If the Bracha of
Shekocho U'Gevuraso was recited on both, you are also Yotzei. (Mishna
Berura Siman 227:5)
This
section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav
Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal , the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi
Finkel Zatzal and the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Ohr, the great Posek
HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Zatzal.
May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
We
will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to
help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in
heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
If
a face is considered so important as an image of Hashem, why does it
say ossur l'histakel bifnei rosho, it's prohibited to look in the face
of a wicked person?
ANSWER BY HARAV AVIGDOR MILLER ZATZAL:
Imagine a screen,
and on this screen there once portrayed beautiful pictures, pictures of
nature, fields, gardens, and somebody came along with a low grade video
and he played it on the same screen. Now the screen is not to blame,
it's a noble screen, but the pictures are no good.
A rosho, although
he's capable of greatness - if he would do teshuva, the greatest rosho
can become a very great tzadik - but right now his mind is casting low
grade images on his face, and as you look at his face it registers on
your mind and on your neshomo, no question about it.
The emotions of a wicked person are demonstrated on his face, and it influences those that look at him.
To subscribe to he weekly "A Moment with Rabbi Miller" emails, click HERE
Important Numbers
