Parshas Kedoshim
“Do not steal” (Vayikra 19:13)
It is a negative commandment that one should not steal. This means to say that one should not publicly take by force that which is not his, as it says “Do not steal”. The word “stealing” applies to a man who snatches something from his friend’s hand, or forcefully and publicly took it out of his possession against his will.
The root of this commandment is well-known for it is a matter from which the brain makes a person distance himself. It is also fitting thus to distance himself from it, for a thief knows that when someone stronger than himself comes to him, he himself will become the victim, and this is something which causes the breakdown of all civilization.
One of the laws of this commandment is that Chazal said that although it is biblically forbidden to steal even the smallest amount, nevertheless one can only transgress the prohibition of “Do not steal” when one steals something which has the value of a Perutah (smallest ancient coin).
One may not steal from, or retain that which belongs to, a non-Jew or idol-worshipper, and if one stole from or retained money that belonged to such a person, one must return it. It is even forbidden to destroy the property of, or rob or steal from one who deserves the death penalty. Chazal said that the reason for this is that maybe they will have children who are acceptable who will inherit their money. One can also suggest another reason for forbidding this; so that a person should not accustom himself to doing these acts, for it is a very bad thing for the soul to become accustomed to perpetrating bad and low character traits.
One who steals must return the stolen item itself. According to biblical law one must return the stolen item itself even if it is a piece of wood which has since been built into an enormous building, and to extract it one would need to destroy the whole building. However, in order to avoid the problem of people being unwilling to repent, Chazal decreed that in such a case one only needs to pay the monetary value of the stolen object, and that is enough.
One who steals from his friend, may return it without the knowledge of the original owner. He may include its value in a sum of money which he gives to him, or slip it into his wallet (on condition that the owner has other money in that wallet).
This prohibition applies in all places and at all times, to men and women.
