The Baal HaTurim makes an interesting comment in our parsha on the pasuk regarding HaShavas Aveidah (V’Asafto el toch beisecha) (Devorim 22:2). When we find a lost object, we are instructed to “gather it” into our house. The Baal HaTurim says there are only two places in the entire Tanach where the word V’Asafto (meaning to gather in) appears with a vov at the end. One of them is here by HaShavas Aveidah, and the other one is by Tzaraas (Melachim II 5:6).
The Baal HaTurim—as is his style—provides a connection between the two pesukim: The Gemara in Eruchin (16a) says that Tzaraas occurs as a result of Tzarei HaAyin (stinginess). “Can I borrow your lawnmower?” “It is broken.” “Can I borrow your folding chairs?” “I don’t have folding chairs.” The person always comes up with an excuse not to lend out his property. What does the Torah say happens to such a person? He gets House Tzaraas. He needs to take all his property outdoors when the Kohen pronounces the house tameh. Everyone will see that he has a working lawnmower, and he has plenty of folding chairs, etc., etc.
The Torah is saying “V’Asafto el toch Beisecha“—if you keep all your utensils inside your house and you are afraid to lend them out, then you will wind up with the plague of Tzaraas and you will need to take out all your utensils, and you will be shown to be a stingy miser. This is what the Baal HaTurim writes.
I saw a very interesting pshat in the sefer Marpeh L’Nefesh from HaGaon Rav Refael Zilber, Av Beis Din of Freiman. Many meforshim, among them the Schach in his seferon Taryag Mitzvos, say that even though the simple reading of this pasuk by HaShavas Aveidah is that a person needs to take the found “lost objects” into his house, there is another meaning here as well: A person must return a sinner to his proper state of being—meaning to return his nefesh (soul) to him by giving him appropriate rebuke when necessary. The Torah is not merely speaking about returning ball point pens or cows. The Torah is talking about returning human beings—souls!
In a similar vein, the Maharam Schick, in his Sefer HaMitzvos, writes that the Mitzvah of HaShavas Aveidah does not only include returning lost property, but it also includes returning a person’s body (i.e. – through healing) and kal v’Chomer, it includes returning a person’s spirituality (hashavas nafsho).
In fact, the Ohr HaChaim haKadosh is the most elaborate in emphasizing this idea, literally learning every part of the pasuk as referring to kiruv rechokim (bringing people back to religion and spirituality). It is really worthwhile to read it inside to see how he explains every phrase of these pesukim.
“When you see the ox of your fellow man” – This refers to people who are so far removed from a Torah lifestyle that they act like animals. They don’t know the difference between good and bad.
“Your fellow man” (achicha) – This refers to the Holy One Blessed Be He.
“Wandering lost” (nidachim) – As in V’Nidachta v’hishtachaveesa lahem (you are spiritually straying, and you will bow down to them (i.e., idols)) (Devorim 4:19).
Regarding the pasuk “And if your brother is not close” the Ohr HaChaim (writing in the 1500 and 1600’s) says that this is referring to a time way off in the future. People strayed from Torah. They are wandering and lost. Hashem commands us “You shall gather these lost objects into your home.” (V’Asafta el toch beisecha). Take those people—drag them—into the Beis HaMedrash and teach them the Ways of Life (Orach Chaim) so that they shall be lost no longer.
According to the Ohr HaChaim, the pasuk is referring—at least homiletically—not to a lost cow or ox. It is referring to a lost person. You must find him and bring him into the House of Torah study.
The sefer Marpeh L’Nefesh uses this explanation of the Ohr HaChaim to connect the two expressions of V’Asafto pointed out by the Baal HaTurim. V’Asafto el toch Beisecha means take him into the Beis Medrash and thus “gather him in” from his Tzaraas affliction. Tzaraas is Tzaar Ayin—a very limited perspective of life. He thinks that what is important in life is making money, having pleasure, etc. He has a very narrow view of man’s purpose in this world. Take him into the Beis Medrash (v’Asofto) and you will heal him from his Tzaras Ayin, his limited perspective and his warped view of the world.
