About the Author


Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem

Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir is Research Director at the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem (www.besr.org). He studied at Harvard, received a PhD in Economics from MIT, and rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. Prior to moving to Israel, he worked at the Council of Economic Advisers in the Reagan administration. Rabbi Dr. Meir is also a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the Jerusalem College of Technology and has published several articles on business, economics and Jewish law. He is the author of the two-volume, "Meaning in Mitzvot (Feldheim), and his Aish.com columns form the basis of the "Jewish Ethicist" book (ktav.com).


The Jewish Ethicist: Entitlement Vs. Charity

Social insurance is not the same as charity.

The Jewish Ethicist: Complaints

It's dangerous to ignore or punish worker grievances.

The Jewish Ethicist: Employment Benefits

Providing a job is the highest level of charity.

The Jewish Ethicist: How to Help the Jobless

The letter of the law, and beyond.

The Jewish Ethicist: Tuition Refunds

Punitive refund conditions are unreasonable.

The Jewish Ethicist: Download on YouTube

Don't lead the charge against copyrighted materials.

The Jewish Ethicist: Impartial Evaluation

Strive for impartiality even in the presence of petty feuds.

The Jewish Ethicist: Reluctant Recipient

Only truly needy people should accept charity.

The Jewish Ethicist: Non-Compete Clause

I want to find a new job but the only job I'm qualified for is with a competitor.

The Jewish Ethicist: Conflict of Interest

Is it ethical for me to promote my own company in shul building committee discussions?

The Jewish Ethicist: Overdraft

Borrowing beyond current means should be only for the most vital necessities.

The Jewish Ethicist: The Piano Next Door

Your piano playing may not be music to their ears.

The Jewish Ethicist: Coffee Conundrum

Can I borrow something small without permission?

The Jewish Ethicist: Coughing on the Bus

Flu victims should be careful in public places.

The Jewish Ethicist: Con or Crunch?

Lenders deserve to know if a shaky borrower has misled them.

The Jewish Ethicist: Nepotism?

Is it ethical to show favoritism to family members?

The Jewish Ethicist: Health Insurance

Jewish communities have always been charged with making minimum health care available for all

The Jewish Ethicist: The Office Pool

The Jewish sages recognized that bettors tend to be overoptimistic.

The Jewish Ethicist: Investing with Charity Dollars

Can I invest charity money in a sure-fire investment?

The Jewish Ethicist: Upcoding

Helping the needy is praiseworthy, but it can't justify deceit.

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders 3

Some people can enjoy luxury, but most people are happiest with sublunary salaries.

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders 1

Do Wall Street traders really earn their pay?

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders II

Making a killing with other people's money.

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering, Part 3

Animal suffering is sanctioned when it serves a legitimate human need.

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering Part 2

Ethical obligations to animals stem in large measure from the benefit they provide us.

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering 1

Animals and people are kindred spirits, but far from equals

The Jewish Ethicist: Billable Minutes?

If you bill by the hour, adopt an equitable policy for interruptions.

The Jewish Ethicist: When to Blow the Whistle

Saving others from loss doesn't have to come at your expense.

The Jewish Ethicist: Beware of Caveat Emptor

This problematic rule has been abandoned in the developed world.

The Jewish Ethicist: Complicity

There is no excuse to take part in fraud, even if you're not the instigator.

The Jewish Ethicist: Favorable Judgment

Be a "defense attorney" for questionable characters.

The Jewish Ethicist: Evaluating the Teacher

My teacher was terrible. Can I give my honest opinion on the school's course evaluation?

The Jewish Ethicist: Scientist or Salesman?

Is it unethical for an scientist to have commercial interests involved in his work?

The Jewish Ethicist: Bad Buyer

Can I browse in a high end store and then buy at discount retailer?

The Jewish Ethicist: Secret Strategy or Scam?

In financial relationships, the Talmud recognized the need for the highest level of transparency and accountability.

The Jewish Ethicist: Socially Responsible Investments

All investments are not created equal.

The Jewish Ethicist: Career Versus Careerism

Careers are fine, but they need to be kept in perspective.

The Jewish Ethicist: Bottom of the Barrel

The fine line between decorating and misrepresenting merchandise.

The Jewish Ethicist - Self-Respect or False Pride

Sometimes it's okay to accept a present.

The Jewish Ethicist - Devious Discount

Discounted from what?

The Jewish Ethicist - Unfair Zoning

Prohibitive restrictions on development deserve compensation

The Jewish Ethicist - Price Fixing

Restraining trade is sanctioned only when it serves the public interest.

The Jewish Ethicist - Lost Object and Lost Owner

Returning lost objects demands sincere but not heroic effort.

The Jewish Ethicist - Almost Poor

Helping the "not-quite-poor" with credit and discounts.

The Jewish Ethicist - Billable Hours

Be careful to record only the hours you actually work.

The Jewish Ethicist - Predatory Lending

Mortgage lenders are entitled to protection from sudden foreclosure.

The Jewish Ethicist - Flawed Freebies

Don't pressure a struggling business owner into providing free services.

The Jewish Ethicist - Anonymous Blogs

Can I make up a fantasy identity for my blog?

The Jewish Ethicist - Careless Cashier

When returning the extra change will get the cashier in trouble.

The Jewish Ethicist - Off Target

Unrealistic targets are an invitation to unethical activity

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