Deuteronomy 24:13 "You shall surely return the pledge to him"

Shani was playing with Debby's pocket computer game on the bus home from school. Debby's stop was coming up, and she requested her game back.

"Oh, please Debby! I'll give it back to you at school tomorrow, pleaded Shani.

"But what if it breaks?" asked her friend.

"Here take my pen-watch," Shani said. "It's worth as much as your game. You can keep it if I don't return your game or if it breaks."

"Do you have other clocks at home?" asked Debby. "Of course!" answered Shani, surprised by her friend's question.

Debby got off the bus before Shani had a chance to find out why she asked such a strange question.

Debby was right in asking about other clocks.

She was concerned that Shani might need the watch before they met the next day.

She had learned that if a person takes security from someone else, he must return it when it is needed.

A person who borrows money may be asked to provide security for the loan. When he repays the loan, the lender will return the security.

However, the borrower may need the article he gave even before he repays the loan.

For instance, the Torah describes a situation where a needy person gives his only blanket as a security for a loan. The lender must realize that the borrower will need that blanket at night.

He is commanded to give it to the borrower at night and may collect it again the next morning. In other cases, as well, we are commanded to return security to a borrower whenever he needs it.