WEEKDAY Law #w05: "What must I do with a Found Object if I can't locate or even ascertain who is the owner?"

Returning a Lost Object is an absolute mitzvah. Sometimes the owner cannot be found even after many futile attempts. Nevertheless, in many cases the law applies that the item should be kept aside until Eliyahu HaNovi [Elijah the Prophet] comes and determines whose it is, because he will have the Divine Inspiration to know which item belongs to whom.

In such cases, one can amass a considerable number of items that are waiting for Eliyahu HaNovi to come, and is impractical to store all of them. If it is an item that is very cheap and easy to acquire, one could take the item, use it for their own purposes or sell it, and just record its proper value in a notebook until Elijah arrives, and then its monetary value will be transferred to the rightful owner.

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Please note that these laws apply in general situations. In unique circumstances, a different law may apply.

If you are unsure whether what you read here applies to your particular situation, please consult a rabbinic authority.

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