Hashovas aveidoh – returning someone’s lost object – is a mitzvas aseh for Klal Yisroel.  If one notices the aveidoh and turns away from it, then he transgresses a negative Torah prohibition, as it says (Devarim 22:1),”You shall not see the ox of your brother, or his sheep or goat cast off, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely return them to your brother.”  

Indeed, during the time of the Bais HaMikdash, there was a special place established where lost items could be brought (even hato’ein).  During the three pilgrimage festivals, when Bnai Yisroel would gather in Yerushalayim, public announcements would be made concerning lost and found items.  When the Bais HaMikdash was destroyed, it was decreed that announcements should be made in the batei knesiyos and batei medrash (Bava Metzia 28b).  

In this context, HaGaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv notes that there are spiritual aveidos – lost souls that are astray in the fields -- and we have a duty to publicize this today in the batei knesiyos and batei medrash.  We are all obligated in the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah, whether it is a physical object or a soul that has been lost .  Moreover, this refers not only to one who has lost his way and seeks to return but even one who has chosen to distance himself.  It is our responsibility to retrieve him – to draw him closer to his Father in Heaven.     

The Talmud (Makkos 24a) states that Rav was concerned about Moshe Rabbeinu’s prophecy that the Jewish people will perish among the nations (Vayikra 26:38).  But the Navi Yeshayah reassures us (27:13), “It will be on that day that a great shofar will be blown and those who are lost in the land of Ashur and those cast away in the land of Egypt will come together …”  Rav Pupa, noted, as  Dovid HaMelech says (Tehillim 119:176), “I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek out Your servant …”  The Maharsha explains that the nation will be lost in exile waiting for the master to find them, but they will not perish. 

There are two types of aveidos –  a material object, like a chest of jewels, that is lost and waits to be found.  The person who has lost the item will search for it, but the aveidoh will not seek its owner.    

Then there is the aveidoh that wishes to be found, like a sheep who cries out and seeks its owner and master.    

Dovid HaMelech compares Klal Yisroel to a lost sheep that wishes to return home. That is an aveidoh hamisbakeshes – a lost object that wants to be found.  This augurs much hope and promise, as both the owner of the object, i.e. Hashem, and the one who is lost, i.e. Klal Yisroel, are seeking each other.  In such a situation we can be certain that they will find each other.  

Ron’s Jewish future looked bleak.  Born to a Jewish middle-class family that was not observant, he was a well-behaved studious sixth grader attending public school on Long Island.  Although his parents had at one point considered sending Ron to a Talmud Torah, they ultimately decided not to do so.   

At the end of the last day of the school year, a group of Ron’s classmates became rowdy and vandalized the school office.  Although Ron had not participated in this act, he had been noticed leaving the school afterwards together with the boys who had been involved.  Ron was not aware of what had taken place, nor did he know that he was under suspicion.  The school administration deliberated for many hours and the decision was made to expel all the boys who were implicated, including Ron, and hold them liable for the damage they had caused. 

When they were notified, Ron’s parents were shocked.  When they confronted Ron, he vowed he had no knowledge at all of the incident and professed his innocence.  The principal, however, refused to retract the administration’s decision. 

Ron’s parents had no choice but to begin seeking another school.  One day, they happened to drive past a local yeshiva that had a sign outside, “Registration open for all classes.”  Ron noticed it and blithely said, “Maybe I could go to this school.”    

It seemed a strange choice, but they called for more information and set up an appointment for an interview.  The principal was skeptical and questioned their decision to enroll Ron in a Jewish school.  He had no previous exposure at all to any Jewish education, not even affiliation with a synagogue.  Ron’s parents had no alternative but to explain the situation.    

The principal listened carefully and then said, “Every year Jewish people start anew.  Even if Ron is guilty, on Rosh Hashanah we have the opportunity to repent for our sins and we ask Hashem to grant us a happy and successful year.  Your son has the same right to a good year as everyone else does.  We will accept him.  “ 

Initially, it was indeed very difficult for Ron.  The subjects were all new, the language was unfamiliar, there were various halachos he had to learn, even the schedule was demanding.  Ron was a smart student, though, and a good boy; after the first two months he had adjusted to all the changes, and actually enjoyed discovering his Jewish heritage.   

One evening, Ron’s father was surprised to receive a call from the public school principal.  The principal apologized profusely about the egregious error in judgment that had been made regarding Ron.  He explained that some discrepancies had arisen, and when the boys were interviewed again, Ron had been completely exonerated.  Of course, stated the principal, they looked forward to having Ron return to school the following day.   

Ron, however, was not interested in accepting the offer.  “No way.  I like my new school much more.  I thank Hashem every day,” he remarked, “that I was kicked out of the other school.”