Do Not Steal
Part 4*
By Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen
In the previous article we saw how it is forbidden to steal items of
miniscule value and to steal as a practical joke.
It is also forbidden to steal from a child. Therefore, one may not take
any item or food from a child[2] .
There are situations where one may feel that there is a benefit of
temporarily stealing someone else's item. For example, one may want to
take a friend's item in order to help him correct a negative trait.
However, even this form of taking is considered stealing. Similarly, one
may not take a friend's item in order to replace it with a better one,
rather he should attain his friend's permission first[3] .
Based on these laws, is a teacher permitted to confiscate items from
students as a disciplinary measure? The poskim[4] write that this is in
fact allowed; the reason for this is that a teacher has the right to
discipline his students in the way that he deems necessary[5]. It is
preferable that the teacher return the item at a later date, however, if
he feels that it is necessary to destroy the item for disciplinary
reasons, then he may do so.
It is forbidden to steal in order to avoid sickness or pain that is not
life-threatening in any way. For example, if a bully threatens a person
to take his fellow's item or face the consequences of being punched, then
he is not allowed to take the item. This is true even if he intends to
repay the value of the item in full.
However, one is allowed to steal in order to save his life, but only on
condition that he will pay the owner afterwards. For example, one is
allowed to take someone else's medicine in order to potentially save a
life, however he must be prepared to repay the medicine's full value.
* Much of the information for this essay is taken from "Halachos of
Other People's Money" by Rabbi Yisroel Pinchos Bodner.
2 In a later article we will discuss the laws of a parent taking his
child's items or money.
3 See, "Halachos of Other People's Money," p.23, for a permissible way
of doing this.
4 Poskim is the term used for Rabbis who specialize in rendering rulings
in Torah law.
5 See "Halachos of Other Peopel's Money", p.23 for more details.
Text Copyright © 2009 by Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen and Torah.org
Visit Rabbi Gefen's new blog at rabbiygefen.blogspot.com.
