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CURRENT TOPIC: HILCHOS HASHOVAS AVEIDAH: PART 2
1) One who finds an item that belongs to a minor, such as a child's watch, a child's jewelry, balls, toys, stationary collection or any other similar item and it has a Siman, must announce it and follow all of the Halachos of Hashovas Aveidah. (See Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 243:18 that it's possible to be zoche, acquire an item, on behalf of a minor to deem the minor as the owner. If, however, the item was simply given to the minor to use and wasn't attained for him, via Zechiya, the item may be considered ownerless, halachically known as Aveida M'Da'as, and won't be subject to the Halachos of Hashovas Aveidah. For Halacha L'ma'aseh a Rav should be consulted.
2) If it does not have a Siman it must be held onto until the arrival of Eliyahu Hanavi at which time its owner will be identified, as the Yiush of a minor does not work. (See Nesivos Hamishpat Siman 260:11.)
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:
Can one eat food that a non-Jew cooks on Shabbos after Shabbos already started (if the oven and everything was already on), if she is also cooking for a bunch of non-jews and herself?
If not, can one eat food that was cooked before shabbos but that she keeps on the heat (which she shuts off when she's done on shabbos) or that she continues to cook on shabbos? (keep in mind that for all of this, she would be turning off the heat on shabbos).
Answer:
A Jew may not eat food that was cooked on Shabbos (surely on this shabbos, and sometimes the food may not be eaten ever. It's too detailed for this forum, and a Rav needs to be consulted for each situation). period.
It doesn't matter who cooked it and who they cooked it for.
If the food is fully cooked, and was left on the open fire, it may be eaten, but is not ideal as there should not be any open fires on Shabbos in the home, without a blech.
If it was not fully cooked, it is prohibited to eat.
The fact that she shuts it afterwards has no effect on the above halachos.
CHIZUK CORNER
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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
The gemara in tractate Avodah Zarah (54b) relates a fascinating conversation between Roman philosophers and Rabbanim.
The philosophers ask that if HaShem hates idol worship so much, why doesn't He destroy all the things to which people bow down. The Rabbis answer that among the things that people worship are the sun, moon, stars and the constellations. "Should HaShem destroy the world because of fools," they respond rhetorically (by getting rid of these integral entities just because people worship them, the world would not be able to exist in its natural order).
Rather, the al-Mighty permits man's free will to carry on - and those that choose to commit idol worship will surely have to give an accounting on their day of judgment.
The gemara then cites another example of HaShem's governance. Someone steals wheat and plants it for himself. Shouldn't it stand to reason, the gemara posits, that HaShem would not allow that wheat to sprout into a bountiful crop, therefore preventing the thief from benefiting from his crime? The gemara answers that HaShem would prefer for the natural order to continue functioning - the wheat will grow as normal, and the person will receive his punishment on his day of judgment.
Many have asked the question: "Since HaShem created the sugar cane plant, doesn't He certainly want us to enjoy sugar in our food?" Others respond that the abuse of sugar and other sweeteners has been one of the primary causes of the skyrocketing epidemic in type-2 diabetes over the past decade, especially in children. Why would HaShem allow this to happen?
Perhaps this gemara can lend insight toward an answer. HaShem creates numerous species in the natural world. We have free will to determine how we will utilize them. We know that everything in creation has a purpose - nothing happens in HaShem's world by accident. That includes sugar cane and tobacco plants.
However, HaShem gives us the autonomy of free will to make use of His world in a manner in which we choose - even if that choice results in harmful consequences. Some things are meant for consumption in moderation and others are not meant to be consumed at all.
Some things are safe to use in their natural state, but processing them can turn them into very dangerous products. We have an obligation to ourselves, our children and our Creator to make use of the wondrous creations in a responsible and mature manner. Rationalizing an excuse to indulge or abuse something just because it tastes good or feels good is the exact behavior to which the gemara is referring - one that HaShem allows to occur, but will surely bear a heavy cost on the day of judgment.
This idea can also give us a glimpse into the greatness of Avraham. He saw with such honesty, integrity and clarity that the world is a magnificent orchestra of complex parts, all working harmoniously together to reveal the marvelous majesty of its Creator, and the limitless love He has for His creations. A person with such awareness would never dare take one of these pieces and abuse it for his own gratification - isolating it from the whole, merely to meet his self-driven desires.
When we are confronted with similar challenges, when we face these choices in our lives, we have the ideal role model from which to emulate. Avraham set the stage, we have to follow his lead.
Important Numbers
