Responsa for Bava Kamma 237:24
<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> ת"ר לוקחין מוכין מן הכובס מפני שהן שלו הכובס נוטל שני חוטין העליונים והן שלו
<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. SHREDS [OF WOOL] WHICH ARE TAKEN OUT BY THE WASHER BELONG TO HIM<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As the proprietor does surely not care about them. ');"><sup>40</sup></span> BUT THOSE WHICH THE CARDER REMOVES BELONG TO THE PROPRIETOR.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As they are of some importance to him. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> THE WASHER MAY REMOVE THE THREE THREADS AT THE EDGE] AND THEY WILL BELONG TO HIM, BUT ALL OVER AND ABOVE THAT WILL BELONG TO THE PROPRIETOR, THOUGH IF THEY WERE BLACK UPON A WHITE SURFACE, HE MAY REMOVE THEM ALL<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As they spoil the appearance of the garment. ');"><sup>42</sup></span> AND THEY WILL BELONG TO HIM. IF A TAILOR LEFT A THREAD SUFFICIENT TO SEW WITH, OR A PATCH OF THE WIDTH OF THREE [FINGERS] BY THREE [FINGERS], IT WILL BELONG TO THE PROPRIETOR.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As they are of some importance to him. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> WHATEVER A CARPENTER REMOVES WITH THE ADZE BELONGS TO HIM,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 715, n. 9. ');"><sup>43</sup></span> BUT THAT WHICH HE REMOVES BY THE AXE BELONGS TO THE PROPRIETOR.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 715, n. 10. ');"><sup>44</sup></span> IF, HOWEVER, HE WAS WORKING ON THE PROPRIETOR'S PREMISES,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As a daily employee. ');"><sup>45</sup></span> EVEN THE SAWDUST BELONGS TO THE PROPRIETOR. <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Our Rabbis taught:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Tosef. XI. ');"><sup>46</sup></span> It is allowed to buy shreds [of wool] from the washer, as they are his.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 715, n. 9. ');"><sup>43</sup></span> The washer may remove the two upper threads and they will belong to him.
Maharach Or Zarua Responsa
Maharach Or Zarua Responsa
A - There is a difference of opinion regarding property of an apostate. I maintain, however, that A should continue to safeguard it, awaiting the time that C might repent and return to the fold. It is not directly permissible for B to spend the money or seize it for his personal use. However, if B had already done so, it can no longer be exacted by judicial process.
If C had never returned to Judaism, but died, the money should be returned to his Jewish heirs, since it is the unanimous opinion of the Rabbis, that an apostate retains the power to transmit his property to his Jewish heirs. If B wants to act with equity, he should return the money to C's Jewish heirs, after C's death, even if B had spent the money or seized it for his personal use.