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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

The Jewish Ethicist: Entitlement Vs. Charity

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Social insurance is not the same as charity.

The Jewish Ethicist: Complaints

The Jewish Ethicist: Complaints

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It's dangerous to ignore or punish worker grievances.

The Jewish Ethicist: Employment Benefits

The Jewish Ethicist: Employment Benefits

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Providing a job is the highest level of charity.

The Jewish Ethicist: How to Help the Jobless

The Jewish Ethicist: How to Help the Jobless

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The letter of the law, and beyond.

The Jewish Ethicist: Tuition Refunds

The Jewish Ethicist: Tuition Refunds

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Punitive refund conditions are unreasonable.

The Jewish Ethicist: Download on YouTube

The Jewish Ethicist: Download on YouTube

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Don't lead the charge against copyrighted materials.

The Jewish Ethicist: Impartial Evaluation

The Jewish Ethicist: Impartial Evaluation

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Strive for impartiality even in the presence of petty feuds.

The Jewish Ethicist: Reluctant Recipient

The Jewish Ethicist: Reluctant Recipient

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Only truly needy people should accept charity.

The Jewish Ethicist: Non-Compete Clause

The Jewish Ethicist: Non-Compete Clause

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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

The Jewish Ethicist: Conflict of Interest

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Overdraft

The Jewish Ethicist: Overdraft

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

The Jewish Ethicist: The Piano Next Door

The Jewish Ethicist: The Piano Next Door

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Your piano playing may not be music to their ears.

The Jewish Ethicist: Coffee Conundrum

The Jewish Ethicist: Coffee Conundrum

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Can I borrow something small without permission?

The Jewish Ethicist: Coughing on the Bus

The Jewish Ethicist: Coughing on the Bus

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Flu victims should be careful in public places.

The Jewish Ethicist: Con or Crunch?

The Jewish Ethicist: Con or Crunch?

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Nepotism?

The Jewish Ethicist: Nepotism?

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Is it ethical to show favoritism to family members?

The Jewish Ethicist: Health Insurance

The Jewish Ethicist: Health Insurance

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

The Jewish Ethicist: The Office Pool

The Jewish Ethicist: The Office Pool

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The Jewish sages recognized that bettors tend to be overoptimistic.

The Jewish Ethicist: Investing with Charity Dollars

The Jewish Ethicist: Investing with Charity...

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Upcoding

The Jewish Ethicist: Upcoding

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders 3

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders 3

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders II

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders II

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Making a killing with other people's money.

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders 1

The Jewish Ethicist: Tycoon Traders 1

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Do Wall Street traders really earn their pay?

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering, Part 3

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering, Part 3

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering Part 2

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering Part 2

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering 1

The Jewish Ethicist: Animal Suffering 1

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Animals and people are kindred spirits, but far from equals

The Jewish Ethicist: Billable Minutes?

The Jewish Ethicist: Billable Minutes?

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

The Jewish Ethicist: When to Blow the Whistle

The Jewish Ethicist: When to Blow the Whistle

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Beware of Caveat Emptor

The Jewish Ethicist: Beware of Caveat Emptor

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This problematic rule has been abandoned in the developed world.

The Jewish Ethicist: Complicity

The Jewish Ethicist: Complicity

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Career Versus Careerism

The Jewish Ethicist: Career Versus Careerism

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

The Ninth Candle

The Ninth Candle

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Why can't benefit be derived from the light of the menorah?

The Jewish Ethicist: Bottom of the Barrel

The Jewish Ethicist: Bottom of the Barrel

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The fine line between decorating and misrepresenting merchandise.

The Jewish Ethicist: Evaluating the Teacher

The Jewish Ethicist: Evaluating the Teacher

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Favorable Judgment

The Jewish Ethicist: Favorable Judgment

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Be a "defense attorney" for questionable characters.

The Jewish Ethicist: Socially Responsible Investments

The Jewish Ethicist: Socially Responsible...

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All investments are not created equal.

The Jewish Ethicist: Secret Strategy or Scam?

The Jewish Ethicist: Secret Strategy or Scam?

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Bad Buyer

The Jewish Ethicist: Bad Buyer

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Scientist or Salesman?

The Jewish Ethicist: Scientist or Salesman?

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

The Jewish Ethicist: Job Hunt Disclosure

The Jewish Ethicist: Job Hunt Disclosure

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You don't have to tell your boss about your job search.

The Jewish Ethicist: Age and Independence

The Jewish Ethicist: Age and Independence

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It's wrong to give so much that we become dependent on the public.

The Jewish Ethicist: Should I Tell the Boss?

The Jewish Ethicist: Should I Tell the Boss?

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A coworker is not a supervisor.

The Jewish Ethicist: Oldies are Goodies

The Jewish Ethicist: Oldies are Goodies

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Think twice before changing a familiar place of business.

The Jewish Ethicist: Charity and Providence

The Jewish Ethicist: Charity and Providence

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Give charity today – you may need it tomorrow.

The Jewish Ethicist: In Case of Emergency

The Jewish Ethicist: In Case of Emergency

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I don't want to give my money to charity – I might need it one day.

The Jewish Ethicist: Custodian

The Jewish Ethicist: Custodian

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My mother is incapacitated. Should I be giving charity from her income?

Over the Rainbow

Over the Rainbow

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Exploring the meaning of the unique blessing recited upon seeing a rainbow.

The Jewish Ethicist: Borderline Poor

The Jewish Ethicist: Borderline Poor

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For poor families, some special expenses can be considered charity.

The Jewish Ethicist: Charity from the Poor

The Jewish Ethicist: Charity from the Poor

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How much do the poor have to help the poor?

The Jewish Ethicist: Painful Priorities 2

The Jewish Ethicist: Painful Priorities 2

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How should I support my needy parent?