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This paper contends that a toxic corporate culture is the leading cause of unethical behavior in business, and that biblical values taught by the ancient prophets can help transform a firm's culture, inspire employees, and foster a work environment where the paycheck is not the ultimate goal. Scripture could help employees understand that the organization's purpose is to achieve many positive outcomes, such as delivering value to the customer, making a positive difference in society and the world, alleviating poverty and hunger, providing meaningful work, and encouraging innovation and positive change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terms such as "woke," "social justice," "cancel culture," "identity politics," "politically correct," "critical race theory," and "DEI" have been increasingly misused by political parties in recent years. This paper will identify and explain how the Hebrew Bible addresses social justice, compassion, inclusion, the indigent, and many other terms, currently fueling divisiveness. The authors assert that the ancient prophets - the true social justice warriors - would be alarmed by such discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines two ancient Midrashim and shows that many important messages about leadership are embedded in them. The first Midrash describes the critical personality trait Moses possessed that made him uniquely suitable to be a leader of the Israelites -- compassion. The second Midrash appears heretical since it has Moses correcting God. Indeed, God even openly admits, "You have taught me something." The primary lessons are that leaders must be compassionate, humble, willing to listen to advice, eager to make changes when necessary, and admit to mistakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the Jewish legal tradition deals with business ethics. One such area of ethical analysis, in particular, concerns efforts of leaders throughout history to combat price gouging. This paper focuses on an overlooked precept: ensuring price stability. There is a tendency to trivialize the law mandating that prices be kept low and affordable, but in the wake of the 2020 world pandemic, these laws are more important than ever. Indeed, very few people are aware that the ninth blessing of the ancient Amida (also known as shemoneh esrei) prayer, established by the 120 members of the Great Assembly in the 5th century BCE, is a prayer for divine protection against individuals who would raise prices unjustly. This paper illustrates the importance of this law and provides interesting stories and examples of individuals who protected the public against hoarders. For it was these ethical leaders who assumed the obligation to actively shun price manipulation, shielding vulnerable individuals from being taken advantage of in the marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past three decades have been witness to a nascent but compelling body of literature on lessons in leadership for business derived from biblical narratives. The aim of this paper is to advance that effort. Specifically, this study considers the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah who built the Second Temple on the ruins of the First, and that of Ezra and Nehemiah, who instituted reforms -- religious, financial, and agrarian. When Zerubbabel arrived in Judah from Babylon, the walls of Jerusalem were breached and the land was filled with people hostile to the construction of the Temple. This paper discusses mistakes made by Zerubbabel as a leader, how Ezra and Nehemiah rectified these errors, and demonstrates what leaders of today can learn from the issues pertaining to the Second Temple period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to demonstrate the many insights into successful and unsuccessful leadership that may be derived from the life of King Solomon, who, according to Scripture, was the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon may have been very wise, but made some very serious blunders that ultimately led to the breakup of his empire after the ascendency of his son. This paper examines the mistakes and/or character flaws which contributed to the decline of Solomon from a great leader to an ineffectual figurehead. This paper will also examine the Book of Proverbs attributed to Solomon and highlight its pertinent leadership lessons. One question that the paper will attempt to answer is whether or not Solomon followed the path of wisdom discussed in Proverbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]