I stole when I was a small child
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Question
Shalom,
when I was a little girl, at least 8–10 years ago,
I used to take every few days a few coins from a box that was in my brother’s drawer (they were collecting for the Talmud Torah/a gift for the rabbi in the junior yeshiva), and I would go buy candy etc.,
is there something I should do about this?
To whom and what should I return?
My brother doesn’t know anything about it.
I would be very, very happy if you could answer me quickly,
when I was a little girl, at least 8–10 years ago,
I used to take every few days a few coins from a box that was in my brother’s drawer (they were collecting for the Talmud Torah/a gift for the rabbi in the junior yeshiva), and I would go buy candy etc.,
is there something I should do about this?
To whom and what should I return?
My brother doesn’t know anything about it.
I would be very, very happy if you could answer me quickly,
Answer
Shalom and blessings.
According to the strict law, you are not obligated to pay back, since at that time you were a minor and not yet obligated in the mitzvot.
However, it is proper to give back as much as you clearly know that you took, as tzedakah, so that those from whom it was taken will benefit from it, for example by donating to one of the well-known charity organizations.
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