Photo Credit:

“What about the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch?” asked Aharon.

“The Shulchan Aruch is even more stringent,” replied Rabbi Dayan. “He rules in a number of places that intention for the particular mode of acquisition is also critical. Thus, even the person who fell on the metziah does not acquire it.” (C.M. 198:12; 200:8; 268:1)

Advertisement




“Thus,” concluded Rabbi Dayan, “since Aharon had no intention whatsoever of acquiring the Chumash when he picked it up, he did not acquire it even according to the Rama, and it belongs to Yosef. I would recommend posting a notice, though, to see whether someone claims the Chumash and return it, beyond the letter of the law.” (See C.M. 259:5; Pischei Choshen, Kinyanim 1:13; Dvar Chok Umishpat, pp. 20-22)


Share this article on WhatsApp:
Advertisement

1
2
SHARE
Previous articleSafeguarding Our Heritage
Next articleApartheid 101 for John Kerry
Rabbi Meir Orlian is a faculty member of the Business Halacha Institute, headed by HaRav Chaim Kohn, a noted dayan. To receive BHI’s free newsletter, Business Weekly, send an e-mail to [email protected]. For questions regarding business halacha issues, or to bring a BHI lecturer to your business or shul, call the confidential hotline at 877-845-8455 or e-mail [email protected].