Reuven sends Levi with 100 dinar to give to Shimon as a gift. Levi cannot find Shimon. What happens to the money?
The agent's mandate was to give the money to Shimon. Since Shimon could not be located and no acquisition occurred, the agent's authority lapses and the money returns to Reuven.
Question 2
Once an agent accepts a gift on behalf of the intended recipient, can the recipient refuse it?
When a valid agent successfully acquires a gift on the recipient's behalf, the acquisition is complete. The recipient cannot retroactively refuse it.
Question 3
At what stage of development can a child acquire a gift for himself?
The Rambam's test is practical: a child who understands that a nut has value (keep) and a stone does not (discard) has sufficient understanding to acquire for himself.
Question 4
A deed states 'I gave the field to Ploni' — does this alone transfer ownership?
A deed recording a gift only serves as evidence. Without an accompanying kinyan, the stated gift has not been legally transferred.
Question 5
A person's unguarded courtyard is in the public domain. Does an object that falls into it become his?
A courtyard acquires for its owner only when it is guarded (safeguarded). An unguarded courtyard in a public area has no automatic acquisition power.