Q. I wanted to buy a box of crackers. On the top shelf in the (non-Jewish owned) grocery store, I saw the overstock, where they had 5 boxes of the crackers wrapped together with clear plastic. I assume that is how the manufacturer sends them out. So since it was a good price, I decided to get 5 boxes, and rather than take 5 individual boxes, I took the five that were wrapped together. At the checkout, the non-Jewish cashier scanned the 5-pack, as well as the rest of my groceries, and I paid and left. Later, looking over my receipt, I noticed that I was only charged for one box of crackers. The cashier must have assumed that it was the price for the 5-pack, but the scanned code was clearly for only one box. I'm pretty sure I don't have to go and tell the cashier or the store, since it was their mistake, however, my question is this: Can I go back to the store, and to the same cashier, with another 5-pack, knowing that she will scan it the same way and i will only have to pay for one box?
A. Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 348,2), quotes the opinion of the Remoh, that even according to the opinions that "Tous Akum mutar" or a monetary mistake done by a gentile is permitted, it is still prohibited to cause that mistake. In this particular case, it is likely that at some point, the cashier or store manager, when taking inventory, will became aware of his mistake, and may remember who kept on buying repeatedly this item. It may then be the cause of a Chilul Hashem. However by dealing with honesty, and pointing out the mistake done, this may turn out to be an inexpensive way of creating a very desirable Kidush Hashem.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
