Rav Yisrael Salanter: A Story

A student of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter once approached him with the following dilemma. “I’ve been a shochet (ritual slaughterer) for many years. As I grow older, I become more concerned about my responsibilities. The fear of causing others to eat non-kosher meat is overwhelming. I would like to stop slaughtering and go into business instead!” Rabbi Yisroel Salanter asked him, “Are you an expert in the laws of slaughtering?” “Of course, Rebbe, I have studied the laws of shechita for many years!” Rabbi Yisroel Salanter then asked, “Are you expert in the laws of business?” The student laughed, “Of course not, very few people learn Choshen Mishpat (the section in the Shulchan Oruch [The Code of Jewish Law] that discusses business law)!” Said Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, “You are not making any sense – If you are prepared to stop slaughtering because of your fear of sinning, even though you are an expert in the laws, how much more so should you fear sinning in business, in which you have no expertise in its halachos!”