Questions when Conducting Business Transactions

[Yaakov]

Dear Rabbi,

I do business transactions with many different people throughout the week, and I often encounter situations where I know what the US legal system would say, but I am unsure about what to do from a Halachic standpoint. Are there clear Halachic guidelines for how to deal with different business situations?

I was told to 'consult a Rabbi', but given the time-sensitive nature of my business dealings, I have found that this is very hard for me to do. In the end, I often rely on basic principles that I learned from my teachers over the years, advice from other business people, and a good amount of common sense. If there is a better method, what would be the process that you would recommend to resolve a situation in a Halachic manner?

Thank you!

-Yaakov

[michael2]

Realistically your problem is with the education we receive in yeshiva.  Rather than spending tons of time discussing the theoretical discussions of the Talmud, we need to study the real world halachot of business.

We need to learn these halachot just as we do kashrut. We certainly wouldn't expect adults to run to the rabbi every time they eat a meal.  We teach people the halachos so they can use them every day.  We need to do the same thing for business.

[Rabbi Hershel Reichman]

Dear Yaakov and Michael,

You raised good points.  There are comprehensive and reliable sources that address modern business issues from a Torah point of view.  There is a wonderful website, http://www.darchenoam.org/ethics/business/bus_home.htm,  which lists many of the important books, classes, and essays that have been presented on these topics.

Specific business questions should be sent to on eof the authorities listed on the site, such as Rabbi Aaron Tendler, Professor Aaron Levin, and others, but it is important to first embark on a basic study of the sources, as is presented on the site.