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The Feiners were enjoying the sight of snow falling outside their cozy house. The white blanket covered the ground and trees beautifully.
“Isn’t the snow pretty?” Sruli remarked to his mother.
“Yes, it’s beautiful,” Mrs. Feiner replied.
“Look at that tree over there,” Sruli pointed to a large, snow-covered tree in their yard. “It’s bending under the weight of the snow on its branches.”
As they admired the snow-covered trees, they heard a loud crack, and a branch from the old tree fell to the ground.
Concerned, Mrs. Feiner called out to her husband, asking him to check if everything was okay outside.
Mr. Feiner went outside and saw that the fallen branch had landed on a neighbor’s bike left on the street.
Returning inside, Mr. Feiner reassured his wife, “Thank G-d, no one was hurt, but the neighbor’s bike is damaged.”
“You should move the branch,” Mrs. Feiner advised her husband. “It could be dangerous if someone gets hurt by it.”
“It’s cold now,” Mr. Feiner replied. “I’ll move it tomorrow and use it for firewood in our fireplace.”
Later that evening, another bike crashed into the fallen branch, resulting in another damaged bike.
“What’s the deal with these bikes getting ruined by our tree?” Mrs. Feiner asked her husband.
“I think we might be responsible for the damage,” Mr. Feiner pondered, deciding to seek advice.
Mr. Feiner reached out to Rabbi Dayan for guidance, inquiring about their liability for the bike damages.
“According to the Mishna, if a tree falls and causes damage, the owner is not liable, unless the tree was diseased and the owner neglected to cut it down after being instructed to do so,” Rabbi Dayan explained.
“In this case, since the tree was healthy and not condemned, you are not liable for the damage caused to the bikes,” Rabbi Dayan clarified.
“However, even if the tree had been condemned, you would still not be liable for damage to inanimate objects like the bikes,” he added.
Rabbi Dayan further explained the legal implications and obligations concerning damage caused by fallen trees, highlighting the exemption from liability for damage to inanimate objects in such cases.
“In conclusion, you are not liable for the damage to the bikes caused by the fallen tree branches,” Rabbi Dayan summarized.
Mr. Feiner thanked Rabbi Dayan for his clear explanation and assured him that they would take necessary precautions to prevent any potential harm from the fallen branches in the future.
Regenerate means to renew or restore something to a better or more vigorous state. It can refer to physical regeneration, such as the regrowth of tissue or cells, or to a more abstract sense of renewal or revitalization.
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