Baiting employees to test integrity

For a shiur about placing stumbling blocks in front of people, there sure were a lot of obstacles to overcome.

Rabbi Chaim Mendelson, Rosh Kollel in Yerushalayim of Kollel Toras Zeraim - Institute for Business Halacha, made plans to be in Minneapolis over this Shabbos, Parshas Chukas, to join the Shabbos Sheva Brachos of his nephew. Rabbi Mendelson contacted the Kollel and offered to give a shiur while he was here. Perfect, we said. You can give the Legal Holiday shiur on July 4th!

Then… war broke out between Israel and Iran. Airport closed. What now?

Baruch Hashem, things calmed down and flights resumed in time for the Sherman-Mendelson chasuna.

But… Rabbi Mendelson’s flight to MSP was delayed, and the shiur was on the rocks once again.

Chasdei Hashem, Rabbi Mendelson made it here the morning of July 4th, only delaying the shiur by 35 minutes. Phew!

After all that ado, let’s get to the shiur itself. Can an employer bait their employee by leaving money around to tempt them, in order to ascertain the employee’s level of honesty?

The answer revolves around the prohibition of “Lifnei Iver,” not to cause another person to sin. Is this transgressed by merely presenting the opportunity, even if it doesn’t result in any sin? Is there any dispensation if the employee only thinks they’re doing something wrong? Is it allowed to test someone for educational purposes? Does it make a difference if the employee is Jewish or non-Jewish?

For the answers to these questions, listen to the shiur by Rabbi Mendelson, and follow along with the sources.

Thank you, Rabbi Mendelson, for your perseverance and for the excellent shiur!