Bais HaVaad on the Parsha, Parshas Vayikra

Beg, Borrow, or Steal

April 3, 2025

Excerpted and adapted from a shiur by Dayan Yehoshua Grunwald

When a person (adam) from among you will bring an offering to Hashem: from the animals—from the cattle and from the flocks you shall bring your offering.

Vayikra 1:2

Rashi comments that the word “adam” teaches that a korban may not be a stolen animal, just as Adam Harishon couldn’t possibly bring a stolen korban, because everything was his. But it is permitted in some cases to borrow without permission for a mitzvah. The Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 14:4) says that one may borrow a tallis without asking and even recite a bracha, provided he folds it afterward. The Rama adds that the same is true of tfillin. The Mishnah Brurah explains that people generally do not mind someone using their possessions to perform a mitzvah.

But there are limits to this halacha. First, the Mishnah Brurah writes that one may only use the tallis or tfillin on an occasional basis and in the place he found it. Second, he quotes from the Pri Megadim that if one is able to verify the owner’s consent, he must do so, because the chazakah may only be relied upon when verification isn’t possible. Third, the Rama writes that this ruling does not apply to borrowing sfarim, because they may tear.

Today, many people are uncomfortable allowing others to borrow their tallis or tfillin, so the Aruch Hashulchan (O.C. 14:11) writes that the dispensation may no longer apply. Conversely, he writes (C.M. 72) that most people no longer mind others using their sfarim without permission, because sfarim today are printed and widely available.