Professor Hershey H. Friedman

Business Practices and the Jewish Tradition
(Jud 20.5/Business 50.6)

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*WHY STUDY JEWISH BUSINESS ETHICS?*
"Whoever conducts his business dealings honestly is liked by humankind and it is considered as though he observed the entire Torah." (Mechilta, Exodus 15:26)
"The first question an individual is asked in the afterlife at the final judgment is: 'Were you honest in your business dealings?'" (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbos 31a)
"One who wishes to become pious must be scrupulous in observing the laws dealing with damages and torts." (Rabbi Yehuda, Babylonian Talmud, Bava Kama 30a)
"G-d, Who may sojourn in Your tent? Who may dwell upon Your holy mountain? One who walks in total integrity, does what is right, and speaks truth form his heart. One who has no slander on his tongue, who has done his fellow human no evil nor cast disgrace upon his close one... Whoever does these things shall never falter." (Psalm 15)
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I only care for myself, what am I?" (Hillel, Babylonian Talmud, Avot 1:14)
"'What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow human,' that is the whole Torah, the rest is commentary." (Hillel, Babylonian Talmud, Shabbos 31a)
"The world endures on three principles: truth, justice, and peace." (Rabbi Shimon b. Gamliel, Babylonian Talmud, Avot 1:18)