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Trade Justice: Jewish Sources and Discussion Question

 

From the American Jewish World Service Education Module on, "Addressing Global Poverty: International Aid, Debt Relief, and Trade Justice"

Leviticus 25:11-24

Translation Original
When you sell property to your neighbor, or buy any from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.
י וְכִי תִמְכְּרוּ מִמְכָּר לַעֲמִיתֶךָ אוֹ קָנֹה מִיַּד עֲמִיתֶךָ אַל תּוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת אָחִיו:

-How far does/should this principle extend? Are we obligated simply not to perpetrate fraud? Or is a business owner obligated to inform her customers that they can purchase the same goods elsewhere at a lower cost?     

-What does the use of the term "neighbor" imply? Are there people who count as neighbors and others who don't? How do we distinguish between them?

Rambam, Laws of Theft 5:1

Translation Original
One may not buy from a thief the goods he has stolen, and to do so is a great transgression because it strengthens the hands of those who violate the law and causes the thief to continue to steal, for if the thief would find no buyer he would not steal, as it says, “He who shares with a thief is his own enemy.” (Proverbs 2:24) [AJWS translation]
אסור לקנות מן הגנב החפץ שגנב ועון גדול הוא שהרי מחזיק ידי עוברי עבירה וגורם לו לגנוב גניבות אחרות, שאם לא ימצא לוקח אינו גונב, וע"ז נאמר (משלי כ"ט כ"ד) חולק עם גנב שונא נפשו.
 

-There seem to be two underlying principles here: 1) the buyer is responsible for investigating the sources of purchased goods, and (2) the buyer is responsible for indirect consequences of business dealings. What are some modern ways we've institutionalized these principles? (eg. It's illegal to knowingly buy stolen goods.)

Deuteronomy 24:14-15

Translation Original
You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers, or one of the strangers who are in your land inside your gates; At his day you shall give him his wages, nor shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and his life depends upon it; lest he cry against you to the Lord and it be a sin for you. [translation by Artscroll, adapted]
לֹא תַעֲשֹׁק שָׂכִיר עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן מֵאַחֶיךָ אוֹ מִגֵּרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בְּאַרְצְךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ: בְּיוֹמוֹ תִתֵּן שְׂכָרוֹ וְלֹא תָבוֹא עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כִּי עָנִי הוּא וְאֵלָיו הוּא נֹשֵׂא אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ וְלֹא יִקְרָא עָלֶיךָ אֶל ה' וְהָיָה בְךָ חֵטְא:
 

-Why does the Torah single out laborers for special mention and protection?

-What are some contemporary ways we put into practice the values enshrined in this passage?

Created By

Naamah Paley
American Jewish World Service