Why Did Rabbi Steinman Cry Out 'Oh, Theft!'?

Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Schneider, a student of Rabbi Steinman who studies with him as a study partner, presents questions and answers that were asked of the Rosh Yeshiva by those seeking his advice and blessing.

One of the questions was: When sending a telegram where each word costs money, is it permissible to combine two words without a space between them? For example, when wanting to write "mazal tov," can one write it as one word 'mazaltov' to save money and only pay for one word?

Rabbi Steinman's response was "Oh, theft!" He added: "Since these are actually two words, it is forbidden. It is also forbidden to steal from non-Jews in foreign countries. This constitutes a great desecration of Hashem's name."

Rabbi Schneider recounts that people approached Rabbi Steinman and told him a terrible story in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein. "There was a story about someone who traveled on an airplane and took home the headphones that are distributed to passengers, thinking they were given as a gift. Later, he passed away and appeared to his mother in a dream, telling her that in his drawer there were two headphones – one sealed in its package and one opened. He asked her to return them to the company because he had no rest in the next world because of this." Rabbi Schneider continues that Rabbi Steinman was not at all impressed by this story and immediately responded: "Stealing from non-Jews is forbidden," adding, "The most severe punishment in Gehinom is for theft."

Rabbi Schneider further notes: "And who doesn't remember our Rabbi's sighs about a certain thief: 'Oy vey... he will never leave Gehinom...' and he was in terrible distress."

Another question directed to Rabbi Steinman dealt with the sale of frozen fish, where it's common to put less fish in the package and add pieces of fish skin to make up the weight. The question was whether it's permissible to engage in selling such fish when everyone does so?

The Rabbi responded: "Everyone will be in Gehinom... The fact that everyone does it is not a permission."

The questioner continued and explained that his intention was to be lenient, since if everyone does it, people are accustomed to it and buy the fish with this understanding. To this, Rabbi Steinman replied: "Even if we say so, this only applies after the buyer has already learned that this is how it works. But the first time when the buyer didn't know about this – it is certainly theft, and one instance of theft is enough..."

Another question was: Is it permissible to give people who don't observe Torah and mitzvot an opportunity to sin, if through this many good things can be done for Torah-observant people?

The Rabbi's answer: "In Torah, there are no such exchanges... what is forbidden is forbidden. And since it is forbidden to assist those who transgress, such calculations don't help."

Rabbi Yaron Mordechai Zakai's lecture on the laws of theft and paths of repentance for those who have stolen: