Gabbai's Liability for Pledges Destroyed in Yom Kippur Fire

Description

The Chasam Sofer rules that R' Elazar, as gabbai of the Chevra Kadisha, is exempt from all liability for pledges destroyed when a stone vault unexpectedly cracked during a Yom Kippur fire. Although members of the Chevra may have mutual shomer sachar status as partners, the heightened duty of netirusa yesirta — sacrificing one's own property to save a deposit — applies only to a guardian receiving explicit wages, not one deemed a shomer sachar through indirect partnership benefit. R' Elazar acted reasonably by saving property from a more vulnerable wooden structure while leaving the presumed-fireproof stone vault sealed.