The Basic Principles of Jewish Business Ethics

The Basic Principles of Jewish Business Ethics

from The Schechter Institutes by Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin

Contrary to what many think, Jewish law and ethics have much to say about the world of business: accurate weights and measures, overcharging, verbal deception, false packaging and much more. But before we get down to specifics, a few general observations are in order.

It is no secret that ethics and business are not always compatible. As a matter of fact, they frequently seem to be a contradiction in terms.

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Business Ethics and Jewish Law

Business Ethics and Jewish Law

from myjewishlearning.com by: Rabbi David Golinkin

Abbreviated from Insight Israel 3:1 (October 2002), published by The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studiesin Jerusalem. Some bibliographic references that have been eliminated here, and a bibliography on Jewish business ethics, can be found in the original version of this article, available on-line. The opinions expressed here are the author’s own and in no way reflect an official policy of the Schechter Institute.

Accurate weights and measures

We are admonished in the Book of Leviticus (19:35-36): “You shall not falsify measures of length, weight, or capacity. You shall have an honest balance, an honest weight, an honest ephah [dry measure], and an honest hin [liquid measure]“.

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