Lip Liabilities: Verbal Abuse or Gossip

Lip Liabilities: Verbal Abuse or Gossip!

from projectfellow.org

By Rabbi Yosef Y Ettlinger

Many schools require the teacher to arrange for a substitute, should the teacher need to take a leave of absence.

R. Berger was an acclaimed and noteworthy educator in a prestigious Jerusalem girl’s seminary. As a world renown speaker and sought after inspirer, R. Berger would travel periodically around the globe on speaking tours. He customarily hired R. Adler to teach his classes while on leave.

On Sunday January 29th, R. Berger emailed R. Adler and asked him to fill in for the two weeks of February 5th and February 12th.   Adler had an alternative option for the week of the fifth, but turned it down in favor of this two week employment.

On Feb 1st, the principal’s neighbor told her that she is aware of a R. Cohn who is from the most dynamic teachers in the country. “Why don’t you hire R. Cohn to cover R. Berger’s classes? While R. Adler may be decent, I am sure that Cohn is far more effective.

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The Jewish Ethicist: Speculation

The Jewish Ethicist: Speculation

from aish.com

By: Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem

Q. Some people make a lot of money on speculation. Is it really ethical to make money without producing anything, just by guessing which way prices are going to move?

A. Fundamentally, speculating is an economically productive activity. But there is no question that it does present some ethical challenges.

The economic importance of speculation is that it encourages the efficient allocation of resources. When speculators hoard a commodity anticipating a future shortage, the result is that when there is indeed a future shortfall in supply, adequate stockpiles will exist. In the framework of modern competitive markets, speculation contributes to effective exploitation of scarce resources.

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Seem Stressed or Seamstress?

Seem Stressed or Seamstress?

from projectfellow.org by Rabbi Yosef  Y. Ettlinger

Seem Stressed or Seamstress?

Aviva purchased a dress for $50.00 which needed alterations. She took it to Mrs. Adler the local seamstress. Mrs. Adler altered the dress appropriately and Aviva wore it twice thereafter.

Subsequently, Aviva realized that she needed the dress to be let out by the seams. She purchased material for $14.00 and returned to Mrs. Adler one Tuesday.

Aviva explained to her that she needed the dress on Thursday of that week, as she wanted to wear it for an occasion out of town on Sunday night (her engagement party). Aviva described to her exactly what she wanted done to the dress and how she wanted it to look. She asked her not to add any flares but to make sure that the dress was straight. The two agreed on a price ($85.00) and Mrs. Adler gave her word that although it would be a difficult task, she would have it ready for Thursday.

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It’s a Boy

It’s a Boy

from projectfellow.org

By: Rabbi Yosef Y. Ettlinger

It’s A Boy     Issue #: 096

19 JUNE 2017 RABBI-YOSEF-Y-ETTLINGER SUBJECT MATTERS: CHILDRENCONTRACTUAL LAWEMPLOYEE / EMPLOYER RELATIONSMEDICAL FEESSERVICE PROVIDERWORKER’S COMP

 

Its a Boy!

Mrs. Greenfield hired Doula Fried, to assist her in delivering her newborn. Early, Tuesday morning, Mrs. Greenfield sensed that the awaited time was imminently approaching. In general though, Mrs. Greenfield upheld a history of elongated ordeals.

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The Jewish Ethicist: Educational Embargo

The Jewish Ethicist: Educational Embargo

from aish.com

by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem

Q. A local retail chain treats the clerks inhumanely. Should we avoid buying there?

A. Previous columns have discussed two kinds of boycott: a boycott undertaken in order to counter price-gouging or avoiding a merchant because of his overall ethical behavior .

The first is perfectly legitimate because the customers are defending their own interest. The main ethical consideration is to adequately document that price-gouging is actually present; otherwise, the boycott baselessly deprives a merchant of his livelihood. Another relevant consideration is equity: if many merchants are equally culpable for a particular behavior, it’s not fair to arbitrarily single out one for action.

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Over The Range

Over the Range

from projectfellow.org

by: Rabbi Yosef Y Ettlinger

Over the Range!     Issue #: 098

Over the Range!“Your fresh-cooked vegetables shouldn’t come out of the microwave soft and mushy. Our sensor-equipped models take the guesswork out of cooking many common foods by using built-in sensors to automatically set power and time based on food moisture levels.” [GE Website]

“Convection oven cooking combined with microwave power produces beautifully baked and roasted foods fast. The convection fan is mounted on the right side of the oven and is surrounded by a 1550-watt heating element, allowing you to convection bake in your microwave oven at any temperature between 225 and 450 degrees.”[GE Website]

 

*

Anita Gross drove by  David’s Appliance Depot on Reisterstown Rd. in Baltimore, MD and saw her to dream GE Profile 1790 sensor technology Convection over-the range Microwave oven featured in the storefront window.

“We have one left. We’ll give it to you at our bargain giveaway price of $950. We offer optional payment plans as well with no extra fees! You won’t find a better deal anywhere in town…Don’t give up this once in a lifetime opportunity. By the next shipment, we’re raising the price to $1050”, pressed the salesman… Persuaded…though a bit wary…Anita handed the salesman three hundred fifty dollars cash and two post dated checks for three hundred dollars each.

Driving home with her prize in her trunk, Anita stopped off for a pizza at a local Kosher Pizza Shop when she eyed an advertisement in the “Where What When” Jewish Monthly on one of the tables. Abe’s Appliances featured her dream 1790 for $694. Mortified, she went home, did some homework and found that she was duly ripped off – over the range! GE’s suggested retail price was indeed $694. Incensed, Anita returned the next day to David’s Appliance Depot and demanded a sale reversal. “It’s a done deal Madam…”

 

May David’s Appliance Depot charge $950 for merchandise valued at $694?

 

Does Anita have any recourse on the day of purchase?

 

Does Anita have any recourse the next day?

 

 

 

What’s the Law?

The Answer

Generally, David’s may not charge $950.  If Anita discovers that she was overcharged 16% of the going rate, she may have recourse (see detailed explanation).

Detailed Explanation

Over the Range! Implicates the following four laws.

Taking advantage of an individual by overcharging or underpaying is generally prohibited [Choshen Mishpat 227: 1].

A customer who discovers, within the timespan necessary to ascertain the true value of the article (and return to the proprietor), that he or she paid more than 16% of the going rate, may generally rescind on the sale and demand his/her money back  [Choshen Mishpat 227: 2].

 

After the timespan necessary to ascertain the true value of the article (and return to the proprietor, the customer forfeits this right to retract on the deal. We assume that the customer ascertained the value, pardons the proprietor and consents to having been overcharged [Choshen Mishpat 227: 7].

Is a consumer who has not yet paid in full likely to consent to the degree of overcharge after the timespan necessary to ascertain the true value of the article, or does he/she view their holding on the money as leverage through which he/she can use to ensure a fair price as long as he/she still is in possession of the money?   [Ketzos HaChoshen 227: 3]

As valid arguments can be made to both sides, we would leave the status quo, and would not obligate the consumer to continue paying the full agreed upon price.

Are head-checks considered having paid for the article in full?

This depends upon the society. Generally in America one cannot receive cash for head-checks. Additionally, the issuer retains the right to cancel the check. A check is simply an IOU.

 

However, in Israel it is common to be able to redeem third party head checks for cash. In addition, in Israel, like in Old British Law, it is a felony to indiscriminately cancel a check.

 

Thus, in an American style society, having given head checks is deemed as though the merchandise has yet to be paid for in full.  Whereas, there is strong reason to believe that in an Israeli style society, forwarding head-checks is as though the merchandise is paid for in full.

Application

David’s Appliance Depot overcharged Anita more than 16% of the going rate. Anita did not notify David’s or return until the next day which was after the timespan necessary to ascertain the true value of the article. Thus, she theoretically, forfeited her opportunity for recourse. However, two thirds of the payment were in head checks. In America, we will assume that full payment was yet to be paid. We would therefore, allow Anita more time to rescind on the deal.

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The Jewish Ethicist: Upcoding

The Jewish Ethicist: Upcoding

from aish.com

By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem

Q. Insurers insist that every procedure be reimbursed according to its code. But sometimes a procedure that usually takes five minutes takes an hour. Can’t I record a higher-level code in order to get fair recompense?

A. The practice you describe is often called “upcoding” – recording a code for a procedure more expensive than the one the patient needs. It is recognized as a form of insurance fraud, or if the insurer is the government as a form of defrauding the government.

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‘It’s Only Business,’ What’s Kosher About Business Ethics?

‘It’s Only Business,’ What’s Kosher About Business Ethics?

from rabbincalassembly.org by Mark Greenspan

Introduction

“It’s not personal it’s only business. You should know, Godfather.” Those were the words of Licio  Lucchesi, one of the characters in the classic film The Godfather. After looting the Vatican-owned Immobiliare Corporation of several billion dollars with the help of a high ranking Catholic official, Lucchesi turned to Godfather Michael Corleone for help covering his tracks. While few of us will ever be quite so cunning or deceitful it’s not uncommon for people to say, “Its only business” when cutting corners in business. The end justifies the means. We presume that in the real world of business the standards of ethics are different than they are elsewhere. After all don’t we say caveat emptor, “Let the buyer beware?” In the world of business and corporate dealings only the shrewd and the most cunning survive. We admire those people who manage to get ahead until their actions have an adverse effect on our lives.

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7 Biblical Secrets to Business Success

7 Biblical Secrets to Business Success

from aish.com by Bob Diener

After graduating law school and practicing for two years, I launched an airline ticket business which was quickly profitable. I sold that business in 1991 and then launched Hotel Reservations Network which became hotels.com. I sold the balance of my interest in hotels.com in 2003 and after a five year non-compete launched getaroom.com. Recently during our weekly Friday night dinner discussion, I mentioned that getaroom.com is growing and profitable and reached some new milestones.

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The Jewish Ethicist – Discounts

The Jewish Ethicist – Discounts

from aish.com by: Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem

Q. I have a standard price list, but I’m pretty liberal about giving discounts when I need to make a sale. Is this a problem?

A. Adam Smith noted that economic progress is dependent “a certain propensity in human nature,” namely “the propensity to truck, barter, and exchange one thing for another”. After all, Smith notes; “Nobody ever saw a dog make a fair and deliberate exchange of one bone for another with another dog.”

However, people nowadays seem to prefer facing predictable prices over having to haggle over every exchange, and so most sellers today have standard prices which apply equally to all customers.

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