שבת Date: 27 Shevat, 5776 (2/6/16) – Gittin Daf 55 {Eliezer}

PILFERED PLANKS

[55a top] Mishnah: In a thief stole a wooden board and built it into the structure of his new home, he is not required to tear down the house to return the physical beam and is simply permitted (Rabbinically) to payback its value. The Rabbis wanted to make it easier for people to be able to do Teshuva (come back to G-d) [and not be too overburdened with repentance].
[GM’ Taanis 16] Shmuel: When the people of Ninvei did Teshuva for stolen boards, they knocked down their entire houses to return the beams.
R’ Rosner quoting Baalei Mussar: By the letter of the law, they did not need to demolish their homes, but it still is not upright behavior to recognize that a house is constantly standing with a previously stolen beam inside it.

D-E-ep Thoughts: Many times people study Jewish law to try and figure out loopholes and the easiest way out of potential problems. We should all be striving to go above and beyond what is “permitted” and live the most pristine and Holy lives possible.