Halachic Highlights

Question: May a person ignore (and not pick up) a lost object that has no identifying features?

Short Answer: While Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l and others ruled that one may ignore such an object, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l ruled that a finder must pick up the object and hold onto it until Eliyahu HaNavi comes and the true owner is established.

Question: Pursuant to the mitzvah of Hashavas Aveidah, must one inform his friend that the friend accidentally left the lights on in his car?

Question: Must a wealthy person, who is not a talmid chacham, pick up and return a lost object that is beneath his dignity to be in his possession?

Question: Must a person tovel electric kitchen appliances?

 Short Answer: While some poskim apply certain leniencies to electric kitchen appliances, many poskim and kashrus organizations, including Rav Yisroel Belsky zt”l (from the OU) and the Star-K require t’vilah, as it often can be performed safely and without ruining the utensil.

Question: Should you pick up and try to return a relatively cheap yet identifiable item in a semi-protected area, such as a baseball mitt in the corner of a dugout in a public baseball field?

Question: What should a person do if he toveled a utensil but forgot to make the brachah?

 Short Answer: The person should do nothing, as the utensil is still toveled, but no brachah may be recited at this point. However, some poskim allow the person to make the brachah if he remembers immediately (“toch k’dei dibur”) after the immersion.