A Bochur was walking in front of Yeshiva Chaim Berlin today (Monday) and was offered a pair of Tefillin for fifty dollars by a black male (about 25 years old, 6 ft.) Baruch Hashem the Bochur was able to stall him by asking him questions, as Shomrim and Police were called. Shomrim arrived in time to successfully apprehend the man and held him until police arrived. Everyone is reminded to keep their tefillin in a secure place (such as not leaving them in the car unattended). Also be aware that it is not a good idea to purchase the tefillin (“to get them out of his hands”) as that will only encourage them to steal more. Rather, call Shomrim or Police immediately and try to stall him until they arrive, such as what happened today.
(Chaim Berlin reporter)
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11 Responses
in shulchan aruch it says that you should offer a reasonable amount of $ or else they will destroy it like the case where the shikser threw a torah in the sea
I heard a story that a yid was approached by a black male trying to sell stolen tefillin. The shrewd yid told the person that you have an incomplete set and you only have one of the arm straps. He showed the person that one was for the head and one for the arm but the other arm was missing. He said ok, give me 5 bux and we have a deal…..
Smart cookie,,,,,,,to stall him till the cops arrived.
“ZALMAN” Maybe he didnt have any $$ or momentarily forgot that well known halchah.
I know someone who was offered tfillin by a goy and he(the yid) told him he wouldn’t pay much because it was missing the one for the ‘other hand’-its not a complete set…so he paid him a few dollars and he was happy…try it next time…
IN TODAYS DAY AND AGE , EVERYONE K’MAT HAS A CELL PHONE AVAILABLE AND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER OF SHOMRIM, CHAVERIM, HATZOLAH, ETC IN THEIR PHONE SO THAT IF ANY THING UNUSUAL CAN BE DETECTED, YOU CAN RESPONSIBLY CALL THE CORRECT SOURCES TO APPREHEND THESE GUYS .
IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE WITHOUT A PHONE, THE BEST THING IS TO PAY FOR THE TEFILLIN AND GET IT BACK TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER.
KEEP TRACK OF WHERE THIS GOY IS GOING AND TRY TO GET HIM ARRESTED, AFTER HAVING POSSESSION OF THE GOODS
Reminds me of a story: My grandfather, Tzvi Tesler A”H, saw a man on the street corner selling papers. The papers were tied together with straps from the tefillin. He asked the seller for the straps. The seller would not give them to him. Although it was the depression and my grandfather had very little money he bought ALL the newspapers so he could get the straps!
I want to give thanks for the poster who posted this story, this web site and Shomrim who helped me in retrieving my Teffilin as these Teffilin in this story where mine, I just got back now from picking them up…Thanks again
Hashem Y’Varech Eschem Bkol Tuv
To SAYITLIKEITIS: If you are medayik, Zalman is correct. This site is suggesting NOT to buy back the tfillin IN GENERAL! This is indeed contrary to halacha. But of course, this is just another site where halacha does not neccesarily rule. Chaval.
To Abi meleibt
There should never be a next time.
However the idea of saying it is not a complete set is a great idea as what does the goy know anyway.
That would and should work with any item purchased from a goy for the reason of buying it back to get it to the rightful owner.
The Mitzvah of Hashovas Aveida is a great mitzvah by itself, but the satisfaction on the personal level is something that you remember forever. Also there becomes a great bond with the person who you return the lost article to as well.
As far as the meshugana’s who feel that this blog site is not good. I say if you do not like it , then stop reading it and certainly stop writing into it so that we do not have to wast our time reading what you have to say.
YW – you are a great site and keep us informed with what is going on out there.
On behalf of the Flatbush Shomrim i would like to thank the Yeshiva World site for helping us find the rightful owner. And thanks is also due to the caller that notified us by calling our Hotline number.
I will try to be more careful iy”h!!!!!!!!!!