It sometimes happens that while a person is taking care of someone else's things, something goes wrong. What then? Well, it depends on the situation. The parsha gives four different possibilities. Let's follow the guidelines of the Torah with some real-life situations:
Case 1) "Shomer Chinam"-- an unpaid watchman. If someone volunteers to guard his friend's store, for example, he must do his utmost best job. But if a robber breaks into the store while he is on guard, he won't have to pay for the damage as long as he swears before a Beit Din that he wasn't careless. After all, he was not getting paid -- he was just doing his friend a favor.
Case 2) "Shomer Sachar" -- a paid watchman. If someone robs the store while a paid guard is on duty then the guard is held responsible. Since this paid worker wasn't paying attention, he must pay the bill!
Case 3) "Shoel" -- a borrower. If you borrow your friend's baseball bat, you should take good care of it and not let anything happen to it. But if there are a few new scratches from when you threw the bat down as you sprinted to first base, that's normal "wear and tear" from using the bat, and your friend will understand. On the other hand, if by accident you left the bat in the baseball field while you went off to play basketball, and it was stolen, you must pay your friend for the bat. When you borrow something, you have to be responsible.
Case 4) "Socher"-- a renter. What happens if someone rents (pays money to borrow) someone else's property and something happens to the property? For example, Mr. Renter rents an apartment and the stove belonging to Mr. Landlord breaks. Who is responsible to fix the stove - Mr. Renter or Mr. Landlord?
The answer is not so simple! Even Rashi (the famous commentator on the Chumash) quotes an argument between two great Talmudic Rabbis about this very question. Rabbi Meir says that Mr. Renter is treated like a "Shomer Chinam" (an unpaid watchman) and it is up to Mr. Landlord to fix the stove. Rabbi Yehuda says that he is just like a "Shomer Sachar" (paid watchman) and Mr. Renter must pay to get it fixed.
So who ends up paying to have the stove fixed? If your stove is broken and you need to know the answer right away, first call your local Rabbi to find out the answer and then call your landlord. Good luck! We hope it gets fixed fast!
CUSTODIANS OF THE WORLD
A DEEPER LOOK AT THE FOUR GUARDIANS
Spiritually, we are all custodians in this world. HaShem has entrusted us with our Divine and animal souls, our bodies, our fellow beings, our environment, and the entire physical world. Yet our intention is to perform our duties (Torah & Mitzvos) are different (even within one person).
BORROWERUSERFeels entitled to benefit without paying for the service
Seeks only self-fulfillment RENTERENJOYER
“This coin to charity on condition of a reward”
Seeks benefits of the world but wants to pay one’s dues (taxes) of Torah & Mitzvos to HaShem PAID GUARDIANWORKER
Accepts G-d’s will as the ultimate purpose of life
Reserves an amount of self-interest; wants to get paid (rewards) for the effort UNPAID GUARDIANSOLDIER
Total acceptance that only created to serve HaShem
Is not owed any compensation
Based on Lekutei Sichos Vol. 31 page 112-118
