[Avodah] Paper towels ownership?

[Michael Kopinsky]

On 2/25/07, Rich, Joel <JRich at sibson.com> wrote:
> A shul has a paper towel dispenser by the washing sink for general use
> by the kahal.  Reuvain takes a few back to his seat in shul due to his
> having a cold. Shimon reaches over and takes one to blow his nose
> without permission from reuvain.
>
> Is Shimon a gazlan/borrower without reshut from Reuvain  or does the
> shul somehow maintain ownership and it's kol hakodeim zacha (or is there
> some other rule)?

I heard a psak (I think from RSZA, in his sefer on Purim) regarding
Mishloach Manos in Yeshiva, that once I have taken food and I would be
able to protest if you were to take it (based on societal norms of that
particular Yeshiva, I guess), I can be yotzei Mishloach Manos by giving
you that food.

In your example, I would think that once Reuvein has taken the tissues to
his seat, he intends to use them himself, and certainly *could* protest
Shimon's taking them, if he wished to.  Then this would be dependent on
the shailah of taking other people's stuff in a case where you know they
don't mind. But it seems that we would consider the tissues as belonging
to Reuvein.