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It is a serious sin to steal or rob, whether from an individual or from communal funds. Geneiva (stealing) is done clandestinely, while gezeila (robbery) is done openly, generally within the framework of a violent crime. Taking even a single cent is prohibited by the Torah. “Borrowing” something without permission, even for a short time, is also included in this prohibition.
Since stealing is fairly common, it causes vast accumulated damage. When stealing becomes widespread, it injures society and damages people’s willingness to work and create to contribute goodness and blessing to the world. What point is there in people working if they know a thief is going to profit from their toil? This is why in the generation of the flood, even though people were guilty of murder, sexual immorality, and idol worship, the sins which sealed their fate were theft and robbery, as it says (Genesis 6:11), “The earth became corrupt before God; the earth was filled with ĥamas (theft).”
Someone who damages another person’s property must pay for it. This is true even if the damage is done unintentionally, such as when one breaks something when turning over during sleep.
