Jewish business ethics
Jul. 19th, 2012 08:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soniaI went to a lunchtime class on Jewish Business Ethics. We started by discussing whether business ethics are separate from religious/spiritual/personal ethics. Conclusion: no. That matches my gut response.
Then we examined various bits of the Talmud. I went to the class because I want to see how Judaism works, but I have my doubts about extracting ethics from 2000 year old sheepskins. I was suspending judgment until we got to Talmud Bavli, Tractate Bava Mezia 60a, Mishnah:
My immediate gut reaction was, I'm done. Anyone who groups the sale of human beings with the sale of utensils (for God's sake!) and is worried about deceptive sales practices rather than the catastrophic wrong being done to the human beings, is not someone I look up to as a source of ethical behavior.
The teacher said, "Well, they're a product of their time." Which is fine. People of their time could look up to them for ethics, but times have changed. Why should we ignore that bit, and then struggle to translate other bits from farming advice to intellectual property rights issues?
Commentary welcome. (I'm looking hopefully at you,batdina.)
This was a sample class for a year-long program I was considering. I was still on the fence until I realized they changed the venue to be across town up a hill on a dangerous road for biking. No way am I doing that every week to learn about something I probably don't agree with!
Then we examined various bits of the Talmud. I went to the class because I want to see how Judaism works, but I have my doubts about extracting ethics from 2000 year old sheepskins. I was suspending judgment until we got to Talmud Bavli, Tractate Bava Mezia 60a, Mishnah:
[Some important Rabbi says:] One may not touch up the appearance of human beings (i.e. slaves to be sold), animals, or utensils.
My immediate gut reaction was, I'm done. Anyone who groups the sale of human beings with the sale of utensils (for God's sake!) and is worried about deceptive sales practices rather than the catastrophic wrong being done to the human beings, is not someone I look up to as a source of ethical behavior.
The teacher said, "Well, they're a product of their time." Which is fine. People of their time could look up to them for ethics, but times have changed. Why should we ignore that bit, and then struggle to translate other bits from farming advice to intellectual property rights issues?
Commentary welcome. (I'm looking hopefully at you,
batdina.)This was a sample class for a year-long program I was considering. I was still on the fence until I realized they changed the venue to be across town up a hill on a dangerous road for biking. No way am I doing that every week to learn about something I probably don't agree with!
no subject
Date: 2012-07-21 02:22 am (UTC)I have appreciated learning about religious viewpoints on business, because I think these codes of ethics have helped build the world we inhabit. When usury was a sin, us Jews were helpfully bankers because we didn't share that viewpoint. When Protestants said that hard work included money-lending, then we were evil money-grubbers again.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-21 05:09 pm (UTC)Interesting points about banking. Shifted my viewpoint just slightly on the ongoing banking crisis, although I'm pretty sure the head honchos are subscribing to the Greed religion.
I didn't know you were Jewish! *waves*
no subject
Date: 2012-07-23 12:52 am (UTC)Cultural, yes; religion no. But my father — who planned bombing raids on Germany during WWII — always warned me that there would be folks who would beat me up, or discriminate against me, or ignore me, because I was a Jew, so I'd best stay strong in that identity.
More below.
Recommend resources?
Date: 2012-07-21 09:02 pm (UTC)Re: Recommend resources?
Date: 2012-07-23 12:50 am (UTC)My Jewish exploration began age 25. I read some "very special episode" fiction — Chaim Potok's The Chosen and Davita's Harp. Then my mother and sister introduced me to Holocaust-related works (fiction and non-fiction) and I spent around eight years in that dark hole. In some cases, however, the fictions tell a clearer story than the best histories. I don't recommend that intensive study, but one work which encapsulates 4000 years of Jewish struggle is The Last of the Just by Andre Schwarz-Bart. Also chemist Primo Levi's meditation on the elements, with a few bits of his personal history (slave labor in Auschwitz): the Periodic Table. If I had to save one book in print it would be that one. And Ten Thousand Lovers by Edeet Ravel paints a remarkable picture of political tensions among Israeli jews.
When I still read paper, I subscribed to Tikkun, a journal of religious and social change. This being the 21st century, I can visit their website.
But Judaism is a religion/culture best learned in groups, at someone's home. If I were to seriously undertake more study, I would find the group of women who are celebrating the Jewish feminine (different folks, different names in each town). They'll probably have a potluck Sabbath. Don't panic if you can't identify that straight off. Scholarship is sacred in Judaism, so there are usually several Jewish tendencies in University towns.
A very quick and dirty scoresheet:
The Reconstructionists are in a similar position to Judaism as the Society of Friends is to Protestantism
The Reform movement is similar to mainline Methodists
The Conservatives :: Jews as Lutherans :: Christians
Orthodox :: AME
Chasidim :: snake-handling charismatic non-denominationalists
A nice essay by an actual Rabbi on the similarities and differences among the variety of Jewish traditions:
http://jrf.org/showres&rid=728
Tons of resources at the US' only non-Yeshiva Jewish College
http://www.brandeis.edu/research/centers.html#jewish
And for a particularly feminist viewpoint, I commend to you Lillith, which has been publishing for a long time:
http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lilith
Further proof that I really don't have an icon for every occasion atop this post. Thanks for your icon love — they're all credited at my profile page and except for the handful marked "do not take" are eminently spreadable.
Re: Recommend resources?
Date: 2012-07-23 11:40 pm (UTC)I'll take a look at your gackable icons, but mostly icons seem personal to me - I would feel weird using ones that I associate with your posts.