Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

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The Rav Name: Rabbi Meir Arad

Q. Is is permissible to break the lock and use a bicycle which is broken but standing in Tel Aviv for more than a year?

Answer: If the bicycle would be new and in good condition, it would be assumed that the owners despaired of finding it and there is Halachic basis for taking them. It is considered like a person who feels in his pocket from time to time to check on his possessions, but in this case, because the bicycle is old and people generally don’t pay attention to such a thing, it can be assumed that the owner has not despaired of finding it, and it is not permissible to take it.If the town council should want to empty out the lot, the bicycle could be taken then, but a message with a name and phone number should be left with somebody in that vicinity.

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