NEWS
On Business Ethics
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
Originally published in the Bereishis edition of 5751 (1991), exactly 30 years ago.
Salant's shochet was an eminent talmid chochom as well as a very pious man. One day, he told Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, that he wanted to change professions.
``Why?'' Rabbi Yisrael asked him.
``Because the responsibility of providing my fellows with strictly kosher meat weighs heavily on me. There are so many pitfalls, so many prohibitions which I might unwittingly transgress.''
``What will you do instead?'' Rabbi Salanter asked.
``I'll open a store, and go into business."
Rabbi Yisrael raised his eyebrows. ``When one eats non- kosher meat, he violates only one negative prohibition,'' he explained. ``A merchant runs the risk of violating scores of transgressions: `Do not steal,' `Do not covet, ' `Do not oppress,' `Do not lie,' `Do not withhold the salary of a laborer.' ''
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Since those days, enterprise has developed at an astounding rate. Yet along with its development, business ethics have declined. Today, cheating, lying and stealing are considered ``part of the game,'' and have nearly become the businessman's badge. It is an accepted fact that the businessman's function is to cheat, and the customer's to discover the ruse. Caveat emptor!
There are so many areas in which we are insidious, that we have become immune to morality. It is quite common that people who meticulously observe many mitzvos, are nonetheless dishonest in their business practices.
The Maggid of Kelm, one of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter's most famous students, decried such dishonesty, especially in the area of weights and measurements. In fiery terms, he describes the pious people who ``pray with great devotion, and then lie, and cheat at work.'' Such people, he says, are actually ovdei avodoh zora. They worship Hashem and their enterprises with equal fervor. In shul, they are Hashem's servants, but once they open their stores, their businesses become their masters. If the "master" compels them to deceive, to lie and to swear falsely, they readily acquiesce to their "master's" will.
For example, the seforim business poses many pitfalls. How many of new books have been thoroughly proofread?
It is well-known that the Chofetz Chaim would personally supervise the printing of all his books. Although they were published in Warsaw, he would leave his home for months on end, in order to oversee their publication. He felt that even if only a few lines were missing or blurred, it would be dishonest to sell them to the public. He would hire special proofreaders, to examine each and every book, despite the large expense this incurred.
Are there such publishers today?
And what about institutional workers, who are careless or overly generous with their employers' property? ``Just a pencil or a notebook'', they say. ``Just a piece of paper or a stamp.'' And when friends visit them at work, they feel free to offer them the use of their institution's facilities.
The famous rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Eliyahu Dushnizer would never serve a guest yeshiva food. ``I have no right to take a portion from the yeshiva's kitchen,'' he would say.
And what about using people's property without their knowledge and permission? ``Just a ride on his bicycle. '' or ``So what if I borrow his Yated Ne'eman for an hour or two.''
The Chofetz Chaim's wagon-driver once grabbed a pile of hay from a field in mid-journey. When the Chofetz Chaim reproved him, the driver protested, ``Oh, its just hay,'' But the Chofetz Chaim insisted: ``You have committed robbery!''
Large scale white collar crime gets headlines, but petty white collar robbery is all too common. How many workers use the office telephone for personal calls. ``But its an urgent call . . . .'' they say. It is interesting to note how many emergencies happen just when the boss has left. In some cases, a certain amount of personal calling may be allowed, but the bounds must be clearly ascertained, without assuming anything.
The Medrash relates: ``Chanoch would sew shoes, and with each stitch he would say: `Boruch Sheim kvod malchuso le'olam va'ed.'
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter asked: How is it possible that Chanoch diverted his attention from his work? He replied: ``Chanoch would examine each and every stitch to see that it was perfect. His prayers were not diversions. They were directed towards his task, for with each stitch, he prayed that the buyer would not be deceived, and that the shoes would be of top quality. Each time he blessed Hashem, he was pleading that Hashem grant him siyata deShmaya in his work and that he produce a perfect product.
Let Chanoch's example be before our eyes constantly, and let the fact that he is mentioned in Bereishis, which our prophets call Sefer HaYashar spur us to strengthen the level of our honesty.
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