Lost items

The mitzvah of returning lost items (hashavat aveidah) includes not only returning a Jew's belongings but also his lost spiritual heritage

Shashi Karko is responsible for public inquiries at Egged, but beneath the surface, he manages to locate all the lost items that disappear on buses. In a fascinating interview, he tells about the soldier who lost her bag on her way to Shabbat, the yeshiva student who forgot his suitcase filled with goodies, the 46,000 shekels found by a miracle, and the tefillin discovered in an Arab garage. "You just have to want to find, want to help," he claims.

Essential guidance on finding and handling lost items according to Jewish law

Returning lost items is a positive commandment between individuals that requires returning lost property to its owner. But when is this mitzvah not applicable, and there's no obligation to return the lost item?