21. Machshava

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchot Bein Adam L’Chaveiro

We have seen that the mitzvah of hashavat aveidah applies primarily to finding lost objects. However, the Minchat Chinuch (Mitzvah 239) suggests that the mitzvah applies also to returning someone to the proper path of Torah and mitzvot. He explains that if the Torah requires returning a person’s physical possessions, then certainly the same applies to spiritual components of a person’s soul.

This idea should encourage us during this season of Elul and teshuvah. According to this, not only should a person attempt to return himself to Hashem, but he or she should try to help others return to Hashem as well with whatever capabilities they have. One who succeeds to any degree has fulfilled the mitzvah of hashavat aveidah. May we all merit to return ourselves, as well as those around us, to Hashem and His Torah.