Hashavas Aveidah: A Window to the Geulah Sheleimah

Torah Thoughts on Parshas Beha’aloscha by Dr. Joshua Fox

"וְנָסַע דֶגֶל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי דָן מְאַסֵף לְכָל הַמַחֲנֹת לְצִבְאֹתָם"  בְּמִדְבַּר י':כ''ה

“Then journeyed the division of the camp of the children of Dan, the gatherer for all the camps, according to their legions.” BeMidbar 10:25

Rashi on this pasuk explains that the tribe of Dan, traveling in the rear, would return any lost objects to their owners. This is the important mitzvah of Hashavas Aveidah, which encompasses both a positive as well as a negative mitzvah. What is the extent of this mitzvah? Rashi, in Sefer Yehoshua (6:13) and Sefer Yeshayahu (52:12) states that the tribe of Dan traveled in the rear of the camp in order to help those who were weak, lost or stumbling. The mitzvah of Hashavas Aveidah is quite expansive, as it includes returning lost objects as well as redirecting and guiding people who are lost or in need. Many רִאשׁוֹנִים cite "וַהַשֵׁבֹתוֹ לוֹ" (Devarim 22:2) as the source for doctors’ allowance to save lives – i.e., returning the body to the pristine state in which Hashem gave it to us (Rambam, commentary to Mishnah Nedarim 4:4). The Chafetz Chaim expands the mitzvah to קִרוּב רְחוֹקִים, reasoning that since the Torah requires us to return lost objects to people, then all the more so there is an obligation to restore a person’s lost soul.

But why is it the tribe of Dan which teaches us this mitzvah? One possible reason is that דָן was named by רָחֵל because "דָנַנִי אֱלֹקִים" (Bereshis 30:6). As Rashi explains: דָנַנִי וְחַיְיבַנִי וְזַכַנִי – We may get judged and punished, but ultimately we will come back, much like a lost object or being lost in גָלוּת. We are distressed due to our being in exile, but we are thrilled and joyful when the object is returned and when we are returned from galus.

The pasuk says (Devarim 26:5) "אֲרַמִי אֹבֵד אָבִי", and whether Yaakov Avinu is the "אֲרַמִי" (Ibn Ezra) or if Lavan is the "אֲרַמִי" (Rashi and Haggadah), either way, Yaakov Avinu is “lost” and is at the beginning of Galus Mitzrayim. There will be a redemption of the dispersed Jewish people – who are like an אֲבֵידָה in galus. They will return home like הַשָׁבַת אֲבֵידָה. Another reference for considering Jews in exile as an Aveidah, and returning with מָשִׁיחַ, can be found in Sefer Yeshayahu (27:13): “And they that were lost (הָאֹבְדִים) shall come from the land of Assyria...and they shall prostrate themselves before God on the holy mountain at Yerushalayim.”

Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 4:3) holds that failure to fulfill the mitzvah of Hashavas Aveidah is one of the obstacles to teshuvah, and perhaps it can also impede the גְאוּלָה שְׁלֵמָה.

Yaakov Avinu risked his life for his פַּחִים קְטַנִים – to retrieve objects he had lost (Rashi to Bereshis 32:25). Today we can do the mitzvah without risking our lives and without leaving our homes. In times past, the mitzvah was performed at the אֶבֶן הַטוֹעֵן, the stone in Yerushalayim used to announce lost objects during the time of the Beis HaMikdash. 

With current technology, there is a modern and more accesible אֶבֶן הַטוֹעֵן – from wherever you are. It is a new website called Aveidah.com or JewishLostAndFound.com  – also accesible by calling or texting 516-aveidah (283-4324). Please take advantage of this mitzvah so we can bring מָשִׁיחַ. By returning lost objects, we can speed up the Geulah - מִדָה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָה, and Hashem will return us from galus to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash (Zohar,  Rav Yosef Engel, Ki Seitzei). One can perform this mitzvah and inform others by simply posting the object on the website. (Chidushei HaRa”n to Bava Metzia 30a) 

Dan, involved in Hashavas Aveidah, was the “last” שֵׁבֶט. Thererfore, it is logical that performing his mitzvah will create אַחְדוּת and אַהֲבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל of בֵּין אָדָם לְחֲבֵירוֹ, and Hashem will “return” us from this “last” painful galus to יְרוּשָׁלַיִם הַבְּנוּיָה.

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Rabbi Dr. Joshua Fox is a musmach of HTC. While in Beis Midrash he was the president of the Student Council and founded the Jewish Information Center. He is currently a dermatologist in Long Island and medical director of Advanced Dermatology PC. He was a founder of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. He recently established Aveidah.com to promote Hashavas Aveidah. Josh raised his family in the New York Five Towns area and is active in mosdos haTorah in the Five Towns and beyond.