Honesty In The Workplace: Part I
The Shochet of Salant
The shochet, butcher, of Salant came to R’ Yisroel Salanter, saying that he wanted to give up his job because the responsibility of the kashrut, rabbinical certification, of the town was a huge weight on his shoulders. R’ Yisroel asked him what he would like to do instead of being a butcher.
The shochet responded that he would prefer an easier career in retail sales. The saintly rabbi continued the conversation delving into the challenges of running such a shop. "There are far more potential aveirot that one can transgress by dealing in business than simply being a butcher," said the rav." A shochet who G-d forbid fails at doing his job properly, transgresses the Jewish Law of one who eats treif, non-kosher. A storeowner, however, has many other aveirot to worry about like stealing, withholding wages from his workers, and unfair pricing, just to name a few."
The Scales in Business
The Me’am Loez says that the word mishkoles, defined as weights used in business, contains the shem Hashem, the name of the Almighty, to remind a person that shiviti Hashem l'negdi tamid, I always set our Creator before myself, enabling one to begin the business day with the right approach while being mindful of Hashem’s presence and keeping composure, serenity, and stability in all situations.
When new weight-measuring technology emerged, R’ Shalom Chavush, zt’’l, spent a long time studying its complex nuisances. The rav explained to his talmidim that he was trying to find the shem Hashem in these new scales developed to assist businesses.
Such is the world we find ourselves in today where our Creator basks in the glory of His people conducting their business dealings with the highest and most stringent of standards truly sanctifying His names for all nations of the world to see, personifying the ever present message, "Mi yaaleh behar Hashem, who will ascend the mountain of Hashem, u’mi yakum bimkom kadsho, and who will stand in His holy place, neki kapayim u’bar levav, one with clean hands and a pure heart.”
Based on the shiurim of Rav Aharon Walkin ztk”l delivered at the Chazaq Beit Midrash Bais Nosson Meir / Kollel Zichron Moshe V’Leah.
Shiurei Lev Aharon: The Legacy of the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Walkin ztk”l
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