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A set of tefillin was recovered on the New York City Subway. They are being held at the MTA Lost Property Unit, at the level mezzanine level of the 34th Street Station of the A-C-E lines. Unfortunately the only identification marks are the name of the rabbi who made the tefillin; there is no identification of the owner.
Their hours are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 8:00am-3:30pm
Wednesday and Thursday: 11:00am-6:30pm
The phone #s are (212) 712-4500, (212) 712-4501, (212) 424-4343 and their internet site is http://lostfound.mtanyct.info/lostfound/.
You will need to bring a photo ID and be able to say what on subway line you lost them and give the approximate date. The MTA staff contacted the rabbi who made the tefillin and he was unable to help identify the owner. The MTA staff does not want to have to dispose of what they know to be a holy object, so please spread the word to all shuls and yeshivot until they are claimed.
The CR’s really busy, so this moved down quickly.
Here’s a “bump” to the top, just in case this was missed.
How long does the MTA hold on to found items? What does it do with it afterwards? And how did you find this out (normally they don’t tell people what they found)?
I’m only a few blocks from 8th Ave, so I’ll try and stop by and get a photo, so I can post it here and in shul (and yes, this is also a “bump to the top” post)
Photo to follow ASAP
Apparently, this is not as easy it seemed. I tried to get a photo of the tefillin, but was told that I could not see the item if its not mine. (hence, no photo)
So unless this story gets noticed by the true owner (or gets the involvement of someone really connected) it would appear the tefillin are not going to see the light of day any time soon
BP Totty
Very sad. Did they say which train they found it on? Time?
Whoever belongs to a local shul email list, please post this.
No, they would’nt tell me anything. (sorry)
Needless to say, MTA employees are not the most talkative breed. Nor accomodating. Looks pretty bleak.
BP Totty
I’m only a few blocks from 8th Ave, so I’ll try and stop by and get a photo, so I can post it here and in shul (and yes, this is also a “bump to the top” post) Photo to follow ASAP
Anyway a photo can be pub’ed on YWN CR? A temp email address with the mod/editor monitoring?
any ideas suggest it to the mods via ://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/i-need-help-with-searching-posting-searching if they take my suggestion of makin it a “sticky”
I think we should all print out the info charlie put on the top and put the papers in our respective shuls. What do you think?
Can one of you very talented, helpful mods correct Shouldnt be here‘s link (HERE). You need to delete the space between via and : and put a space between : and //www.
It should look like this:
via: //www.
and not
via ://www.
(or you can just make it a link…)
Thanks!!!
You can delete this post.
My suggestion is that someone should go and claim it ASAP (even if it doesn’t belong to you – I mean how hard can it be to claim tefillin?), and then bring it to the New Square Hashavas Aveida organization. That way, we know it’s in safe, Jewish hands and will not be risked being disposed of in an unacceptable way. And they will try and find the owner.
I would go myself, but I think someone who actually works/lives in that neighborhood should go.
L613, I don’t think its that simple. To claim it, they will ask you many questions. Where you lost it? What train line? What time of day? Any special signs on them?
And if they catch you lieing, it may look like Yidden lie.
L613
You will need to bring a photo ID and be able to say what on subway line you lost them and give the approximate date.
So that will be a problem. We need a mocher to get involved. For now I suggest everyone printing out copies of Charlie Halls first post and distributing it in his shul or shuls he davens in, or yeshivah.
charliehall
Thanks. Good, thats a good start, hopefully it will lead to something. I will IY”H print it out and put them on tables in shul tomorrow.
Perhaps Dov Hikind or David Greenfield can have some “pull” with the MTA to transfer this to a shul until the owner is located.
In the event the MTA puts the tefillin up for sale, could we take up a collection here (of course, under the Yeshiva World supervision) to buy the tefillin?
Then, after a suitable period (whatever the psak halacha is), if they are still unclaimed, perhaps they can go to a poor Jew who needs a new pair of tefillin or to a yeshiva as a “spare pair.”
Another lesson learned (the hard way) here…
Right now make sure your Talis and Tefilin bags are labeled with your name and phone numbers.
It’s possible that these tefillin were stolen (anywhere) and discarded by the thief on the subway, in which case the owner would have no way to identify which line they were on.
BUMP!
Right now make sure your Talis and Tefilin bags are labeled with your name and phone numbers.
Heh. Mine has all that — and my email address.
I even started putting my email address (along with my name) on the inside covers of new seforim that I buy.
The Wolf
It’s possible that these tefillin were stolen (anywhere) and discarded by the thief on the subway, in which case the owner would have no way to identify which line they were on.
Possible, but far more likely that they were simply lost.
The Wolf
Charliehall
There’s something I don’t understand, where was the Rabbis identification with this Tefillin? There was a tag or card?
Is it a brand new pair of Tefillin?
I just had a thought, maybe it belongs to a Lebavitcher shliach, one of those guys that offers to put tefillin on people. Some of those guys even operate in subway stations. Either way, it is quite possible that it belongs to such a person. That’s why it didn’t have a name because it may not be his personal pair of tefillin, just one that he uses for this purpose.
charliehall
What does that mean ON the Tefillin? On how? In what way on what part?
Wolf,
I have no idea what the odds are that they were stolen as opposed to left on the subway; my point is that this should be publicized to anyone who lost his tefillin anywhere because it is a possibility.
Charliehall
Oh I gotcha. So he doesnt keep records of who he sells to? Isnt that odd? Its a newish pair as you said so its gotta be someone who bought it recently right?
WIY: The owner of the Tefillin may not have purchased them directly from the sofer. They may have been purchased from a Judaica shop or been a gift.
Mi Keamcha Yisroel!
Its unreal how when it comes to a mitzvah, everyone unites no matter how different we are. (and boy are we different as is clear from almost every other thread in the CR)
Some sofrim put on a sticker when they check tefillin. It would make more sense, then, that there are no records.
If it is so new, the owner may be a young Bar Mitzvah bochor.
“everyone unites no matter how different we are”
whatrutalkingabt: You are absolutely right, because no matter where we daven, as Yidden we are committed to mitzvot. Most of us try to do the right thing. As a people we are known for our warmth ,generosity and good deeds and though we may agree to disagree on many topics, we will always unite for a good cause or to fight a mutual enemy. Shabbat Shalom.
Minyan gal
Touching words. Thanks.
BUMP
WIY So he doesnt keep records of who he sells to? Isnt that odd? Pray tell WHY ?
Shouldnt be here
Usually businesses keep records of what they sell and to whom especially when it is expensive items. I don’t know how many pairs of tefillin a sofer sells a year but I don’t think its that many I would think he would have some record of it.
charliehall
How are we going to know if the Tefillin have been retrieved by the owner?
WIY,
I agree that it would be odd not to know who he sold it to, but if he only checked them, it would make more sense.
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