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Can I cut schach from a public tree without getting permission from the government?

Question:

There is a tree on a small island in a public park where the palm branches are getting old and falling off anyway as there is no gardening there. Am I able to take my boat and cut some branches off (keeping it looking the same for the publics visual appearance/pleasure) without getting permission from the local governing authorities in charge of the park?

If I were to ask, they’d most likely say no just because they have no reason to say yes and for public liability insurance issues (were something to go wrong) etc. But they definitely wouldn’t lose anything from it. If anything I’d be clearing away overgrown shrubbery and making it look cleaner. Practically nobody goes on the island anyways.

Answer:

You should not take the branches without getting permission from the local governing authorities in charge of the park.

Sources:

CH:M 348:2 and ibid Be’er Hagolah

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2 Comments

  1. That is not a reason halachicly and quite irrelevant to this situation as the branches are falling of around it as they die anyways and not useful to anyone. The average person doesn’t even have a boat to acces the tree.

    If the answer is no, that’s fine, but provide a real reason for my question.

    1. The question was placed under the category of “theft and robbery” also see the sources quoted.

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