We reveal the soul of the prohibition of charging interest as the foundation of the Torah’s economic model of free market capitalism governed by strict principles of Divine Law and Ethics and recognizing that only in true  partnership with labor (whether physical or intellectual) can capital create value and wealth. Source Sheet 

Context determines when a statement is merely an effort to provide a reassuring voice to the other party and when it reflects contractual intent. Source Sheet

Context determines when a statement is merely an effort to provide a reassuring voice to the other party and when it reflects contractual intent. Source Sheet

The intentions of deeds and transactions can sometimes be determined by words, agreements, and contracts. Often however, deeds need to be interpreted by the context in which they occur. Source Sheet

Trade Finance presents interesting challenges in the laws of interest bearing credit. Source Sheet

Lending and borrowing with interest is a unique law that is foundational to faith and community. Source Sheet

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” – Marcus Arelius, Meditations. How applicable is this in Torah? Source Sheet

We can cause damage to the property of others or to their persons. Perhaps the worst damage that we can cause though, is damage to their heart. Source Sheet

The right to cancel a sale can stem either from one party having mislead the other, or from having transgressed the prohibition of אונאה Source Sheet

When a transaction is designed for a spiritual reason rather than an economic one, money is valued subjectively rather than by the currency market. Source Sheet

The Torah expects high levels of personal mastery from us. Even to having a grievance against one who wronged us needs us to have an Halachik basis that permits such a grievance. Source Sheet

An item sold by an individual from his or her personal collection has a narrative attached to it unlike a generic item bought in a store. The narrative attaches a different value to the item. Source Sheet

The feeling of having had our trust exploited, is one of the most soul-destroying feelings we can endure. Source Sheet

Standing by your word even when there is no contractual obligation, even when it entails loss. Source Sheet

Lack of integrity, even when no crime is involved, can be more destructive for society than criminal activity. Source Sheet

It is human nature that when we have an interest in a given outcome, we take on greater responsibility than when we don’t . Source Sheet

Introduction to HaZahav: Some things are valued for their activity and others for their essence. It is the same with people. Source Sheet

To maximize long term value growth it is crucial to align the interests of all stakeholders. Source Sheet 

When lack of attention to detail indirectly causes a loss to others we are morally responsible for the loss. Source Sheet

Responding to a call for help is a fundamental human capacity. Source Sheet

People have the capacity to reason for themselves and also to trust in the Torah. Both capacities are needed as well as the strength of conviction to live according to our reason and not according to the fads of the day. This is essential to our Jewishness.  Source Sheet

There is a tension between authentic Torah – that which comes from an original source - and original Torah, that which is innovative and new. How are these two poles reconciled? Source Sheet

In a theo-centric world animal rights will never take precedent over Divine Laws for humankind. Yet we see cases where the Divine Law seems to be set aside for kindness to animals. Why would this be? Source Sheet

In a fundamentalist religion, ritual trumps humanism. In a humanistic faith, humanism trumps ritual. How does the Torah deal with the tension that often exists between human dignity and the observance of the mitzvot? Source Sheet