1) If a minor finds an item and decides to keep it and not give it to his father as he is supposed to, it is treated like any other theft by a minor; if the item still exists we take it from him, if it no longer exists he is not obligated to pay for its value, even when he becomes a Gadol. (See Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 349:3.)
He should, however, be chastised for this, or any, stealing. (See Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 349:5. See also Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 343:1 and Mishna Berura S"K 7 and Sha'ar HaTziyun Os 15)
2) Although the minor is not obligated to return the lost item when he becomes a Gadol, it is still praiseworthy, L'Fnim M'Shuras haDin, to indeed do so. (Mishna Berura Siman 343 S"K 9)
question
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:
What is the source for a woman who is expecting not to look at animals? Does this apply to fish as well?
Answer:
This is something which many people mistakenly attribute to the fact that animals in the zoo are impure (Tamei) and as such will cause the fetus to become impure.
In fact, that is not the reason at all, as pregnant women may go to funerals and cemeteries, which are more impure than zoos (See Shu"t Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 10 Siman 42)
The real source for this is found in the 18th century Kabalistic work "Sefer Habris" (Vol. 1 Ma'amar 17, page 242-243) where he describes how a pregnant woman can see a strange or scary things and become scared, and can end up having her baby with skin deformities resembling the scary/strange thing.
He brings some interesting anecdotes where such things actually happened (and a whole regimen of spitting 13 times over the first 10 days after the baby is born etc. is required in order to cure the deformities)
Thus, it developed the custom that women stayed away from zoos where they were sure to encounter strange/scary creatures.
Nowadays when we are much more familiar with strange and exotic animals, and we often see photos of all sorts of creatures, there is less to worry about, and indeed this is why the prevalent custom is for pregnant women to indeed go to zoos.
Thus, there is no inherent problem with her seeing an animal, and definitely no problem looking at fish. (The above is based in large part on a shiur by HaRav Shmuel Felder Shlita, Dayan in Bais Medrash Govoha, Lakewood NJ)
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.
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זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
Question:
The Chofetz Chaim was once seen through a key hole, as he was sitting on his bed with a Chumash and he was reading about the ten makos. And he said, "gut oif em, gut oif em", which means it's good that they got the makos, he was happy. So this gentleman is asking, is it correct to rejoice in the destruction that was visited on those who have the image of Hashem?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
Now that's what the gemara says, that the malachim wanted to say shirah and Hakadosh Baruch Hu prevented them. He said, ma'asei ya'dei tov'im ba'yam, my handiwork is sinking in the sea and you're saying shirah? That's exactly what you're asking, it's tzelem elokim. So He didn't allow them to say shirah. But the big question remains, Oz yoshir moshe u'Bnei Yisroel, they did say shirah!
And the answer is, we have to say shirah - not malachim, because if you'll rejoice that the tzelem elokim of a murderer was punctured by 15 bullets, let's say a gangster, you read in a newspaper, his face was punctured by 15 bullets, you have a right to chuckle, and be happy at it and say that's what he deserved to get. Rock bi'einecha sabit, bi'shelumas reshaim tir'eh. You should look with your eyes, and you should see the reward, the payment of the reshaim. Certainly! Because he'nosai shofeit ha'aretz ha'sheiv gi'mul al gayim, the Judge of the world is uplifted and exalted when we see how He returns recompense upon the arrogant. Certainly we have to rejoice in the downfall of the reshaim even if they're tzelem elokim.
If they destroy the tzelem elokim by being wicked and they cause it to be corrupted and distorted, so we rejoice in their downfall. We should have no qualms or conscience. In the morning if you come on time to daven, don't skip Oz yoshir, if you have time. If you look in Oz yoshir you see all the details - how they sank like stones - are reiterated and explained in different ways. We rejoice in the downfall of the wicked!
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