Translation:Shulchan Aruch/Choshen Mishpat/358

Paragraph 1- One is prohibited from purchasing anything that is presumed to be stolen. Similarly, if most of a certain item is stolen, one may not purchase it. Thus, one cannot purchase wool, milk or goats from shepherds. One may, however, purchase milk and cheese from them in the desert, but not in civilization. One many purchase four cattle or four sheerings of wool from a small flock or five from a large flock, because there is no presumption that it was stolen. The general rule is that one may purchase anything a shepherds sells which the owner would be aware of. If the owner would not be aware, one would be prohibited from purchasing.

Paragraph 2- One may not purchase wood or fruits from a fruit-watchman, except where they are sitting and selling them with the baskets and scales are in front of them because it is done out in the open and word will spread. This assumes he is at the entrance of the garden.

Paragraph 3- In all cases, if the seller said to hide one is prohibited from purchasing from him.

Paragraph 4- One is permitted to purchase from a sharecropper because he has a portion in the fruits and wood. ''There are those who say this is only after they divided because the presumption is the sharecropper is selling his own. Prior to division, however, one is prohibited from purchasing because we are concerned the sharecropper will not give a corresponding amount to the owner.''

Paragraph 5- One may not purchase from women, slaves or minors other than items that are presumed to belong to them with the knowledge of the head of household, such as women that sell flax vessels in the Galilee or calves in the Sharon. One may purchase eggs and chickens in all locations and from all people. In any case where the seller says to hide, one is prohibited from purchasing. An incident occurred with a woman who took possession of orphans’ properties, and the Rabbis made a decree that nobody should marry her so as not to strengthen the hand of sinners.

Paragraph 6- One may purchase olives and oil by weight from olive pressers, but not a small amount of olives or oil because it is presumed to be stolen. The same applies to anything similar.

Paragraph 7- Strands of wool that the launderer removes belongs to him. Strands that the carder pulls out belongs to the owner because anything that the owner cares about belongs to him.

Paragraph 8- The launderer can take three threads and keep it. Anything more belongs to the owner. If they were black on white threads, they would all belong to the launderer.

Paragraph 9- If a tailor left over enough thread that it could be sowed or he left over a patch that is three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths, he would be required to return it to the owner. If it was less than that, the tailor can keep it.

Paragraph 10- Wood shavings that a carpenter removes with his adze belongs to him. Wood which he removes with an ax belongs to the owner. If he was working next to the owner even the wood shavings would belong to the owner. ''The same applies to other work. Anything the owner cares about belongs to him and anything he does not care about belongs to the worker.''

Paragraph 11- In all these matters and similar matters we would follow local custom.

Paragraph 12- In a case where any craftsmen sells something that does not belong to him under local law, such as threads that a carder sold in a place where the custom is that it belongs to the owner, a buyer is prohibited from purchasing it. One can, however, purchase a cushion full of threads ''because the item changed in the thief’s possession. Although one does not acquire with a modification that reverts back to its original state, in a case of uncertain-theft such as this one, it would be permitted. The same applies to anything similar.'' If the craftsman sold something that belonged to him under local law, one may purchase from him. If the craftsman told him to hide, it would be prohibited.