I am doing a project on ethical dilemmas for grade 8 Judaic Studies. My ethical dilemma is:
If you get too much change from a store/restaurant etc. should you give back the extra change, or keep it. Who would you be hurting if you kept it? Would you feel guilty if you kept it? How does Jewish law answer this question.
Answer:
If you receive too much change, from a restaurant or any store, the change should be returned.
Something given to you by mistake is a case of “lost property.” According to Halachah the money is essentially “lost” to its owner, and therefore it should be returned to its owner – the storekeeper. Keeping the money would be financially hurting the owner of the money.
Best wishes.
