Rambam - Sefer HaMitzvos: Positive Mitzvah 246: Positive Mitzvah 246

This is not an error of duplication. The full-fledged version of this Mitzvah are many and change for those who are learning the one/three chapter a day. The Message for the day from "Bringing Heaven Down to Earth" at the end of this Mitzvah is different than that of yesterday.

Positive Mitzvah 246: Laws of Claims
Exodus 22:8 "In every case of trespass...in which one can say: This is it"'

Ari and Izzy were playing ball on the lawn.

Suddenly, Ari felt his glove beginning to slip of his hand.

He shouted to Izzy to wait a second, but Izzy threw the ball anyway. It landed in the street sewer because Ari wasn't ready to catch it.

"Hey! I asked you to wait!" Ari yelled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," Izzy answered.

"Yes you did. I could tell! Now you've got to buy me a new ball!" Ari demanded.

"No I don't" Izzy protested.

In cases like these, where an argument arises and people disagree about who bears responsibility for a loss or damage, the Torah teaches us how to come to a fair decision.

A container is defined by its contents: A pitcher of water is water. A crate of apples is apples. A house, too, is defined by what it contains. Fill your house with books of Torah, and your house becomes a Torah. Affix charity boxes to its walls, and your house becomes a wellspring of charity. Bring those who need a warm home to your table, and your house becomes a lamp in the darkness.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com