The Obligation to protect other people’s belongings
The prohibition of theft
The prohibition of theft has everything to do with respect for the prohibition of others. That also means that you can’t just borrow something from someone without anyone knowing. In “The Divine Code” it is written as follows:
“It is forbidden to steal from relatives or to take something of theirs without their knowledge, to use it without permission. This applies even if one knows with certainty that if his relative learned that he did this, the relative would be happy, that he benefited in this way.”
Also, you shouldn’t take something from someone temporarily to teach them a lesson – because they haven’t put their stuff away properly – or to play a joke on them. A person should learn a great sensitivity to keep away from the possessions of others.
On the other hand, man should always give his neighbor the benefit of the doubt if he thinks that he has taken something from him and assumes that this person is sincerely mistaken.
By Angelique Sijbolts
Sources: The Divine Code by rabbi Moshe Weiner 4e edition p. 487, Chabad Article: The Laws of Stealing – Mitzvahs & Traditions
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