1) If one finds money or another item in a store, keep in mind the following:
If it was found behind the counter, where only the storeowner is found, it belongs to the storeowner regardless if it has a Siman or not. (Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 260:5)
If the storeowner says that it isn't his item, if it has no Siman he may keep it, if it has a Siman he must announce it and follow all the Halachos of Hashovas Aveidah.(As it is his Chatzer, and it assumes ownership for him)
If it was found in front of the counter, or anywhere else in the store where customers are found, if it has no Siman (or even if it has a Siman but the majority of the customers are non-Jewish) the finder can keep it. (ibid.)
If it does have a Siman, some Poskim rule that the finder must announce itand follow all the Halachos of Hashovas Aveidah. ( ibid. See also Sma Os17)
2) If the item was found on the actual counter, some rule that regardless if it has a Siman or not it belongs to the storeowner.(Rama ibid.)
Other Poskim rule that if it has no Siman, the finder can keep it, and if it has a Siman he is obligated to announce it. (ibid. See also Aruch Hashulchan 260:12)
All agree that if it common for both the storeowner as well as customers to place personal items on this counter, it belongs to the finder.
All of the rules of a store apply to a bank as well with the exception of finding money on the actual counter, where all Poskim agree it doesn't belong to the bank or any of its employees, rather , if it has no Siman it belongs to the finder, and if it does have a Siman the finder must announce it (unless the majority of customers are non-Jewish, in which case he may keep it even if it has a Siman). (Shulchan Aruch ibid.)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) One who places an order from a store, and upon receiving his order finds an item amongst the items that is not his, may use the item. (Hashovas Aveida K'hlacha page 89 footnote 35, based on Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 262:17)
2) If a storeowner finds an item in his store which eveidently was placed there by a customer who then forgot it there (e.g. an umbrella laying beside the front entrance) is obligated to announce the item via placing a notice in a prominent place in the store as well as placing an ad in a local newspaper or similar way.
If it isn't claimed, he should hold on to it until the arrival of Eliyahu Hanavi, as we learned earlier.
As a prudent piece of advice, all storeowners should hang a notice in their stores, in a conspicuous place, stating that all object left in the store beyond a certain amount of time will become theirs to do with as they please. (Ruling of HaRav Nisim Karelitz Shlita)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
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:
How clearly must the moon be visible in order to say kiddush levana? And if you see the moon, but then it goes behind a cloud, can you start saying kiddush levana? If you started, can you continue?
Answer:
It must be clear enough that its light is discernable [on the ground]. If the Bracha was started and the clouds covered the moon, it may be finished. However, if one thinks the clouds will cover it before the Bracha is finished, it is best not to begin the Bracha. (see Mishna berura Siman 426:3) .
If the Bracha was finished and the moon is then covered by clouds, the rest of the Pesukim may be finished.
Click Here for archives of Hilchos Kiddush Levana.
CHIZUK CORNER
[1.0579710144927536] Bizback2
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 YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
"Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men and women who kept on working."
Important Numbers
