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Business exists because society allows us to exist; and in exchange for that permission to pursue profits, business must behave and act in ways that protect and enhance the world we live in. In other words, a business exists to serve its customers and the communities in which it operates. You can’t just look at the bottom line.

Kenneth Chennault

Why a Jewish Perspective on Business Ethics?

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Using the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as their starting point, rabbis have been wrestling with ethical issues in the marketplace for the past 2,000 years.

The particular issues we face today often involve technology far beyond the imagination of the rabbis of old – the internet makes it possible to steal at the speed of light. Human nature, on the other hand, has changed surprisingly little over the past 2,000 years. The values elucidated by the rabbis in their writings on business ethics are eternal. The Jewish approach to business ethics applies the values that have been brought to light over the centuries to contemporary issues to help us find a path that is just.

About Rabbi Barry Leff

Rabbi Dr. Barry Leff is both a business executive and a rabbi. After working in high-tech in Silicon Valley for 20 years (earning a Doctorate in Business Administration along the way) he quit his job as VP-Marketing for a semiconductor company and went back to school to become a rabbi. His background in technology is reflected in his rabbinic writings, as, for example, he wrote a paper on the ethical aspects of protecting intellectual property such as patents and copyrights.

Writings

RABBI LEFF IS A FREQUENT WRITER, SPEAKER, AND TEACHER ON BUSINESS ETHICS FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE. VISIT THE WRITINGS PAGE FOR LINKS TO HIS TESHUVOT (JEWISH LEGAL OPINIONS), BOOK CHAPTERS, AND PAPERS.

Barry Leff

Blog

Rabbi Leff’s commentary on ethical issues.

March 2017

Our Services

RABBI LEFF IS AVAILABLE TO SHARE HIS EXPERTISE IN BUSINESS ETHICS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS: CONSULTING, SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE WEEKENDS, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, OR LECTURES.

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