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Stealing from State

I am an Olah from South Africa working in Israel as a Metapelet. I generally work 9 3/4 hours a week for one lady from 8 – 9.30 in the morning. The Social worker at her Retirement Centre in liaison with her nieces requested more hours for her from Bituach Leumi and was allowed 10 extra hours. She did not request these hours and does not want them, but agrees that I should work an extra 2 hours a week 1/2 per day 4 days of the week, starting in March. Now my employers have received money for 10 extra hours, I advised I was not able to work these hours, and she did not want it, but nevertheless they deposited the money into my bank account for January. I told them I could not accept it and the supervisor was surprised as she said even if I only worked 2 hours I could accept the money.

I feel it is not only dishonest but also theft to accept money for hours I have not worked. I consulted a local rabbi who said I should consider it as a gift to a valued employee – but this is not acceptable to me. I am asking them to fix it and have confirmed to Bituach Leumi that they will be fixing it up this coming month, but my worksheet still includes 10 extra hours a week for which I will not be signing and which I am going today to request they give me a corrected form. If they do not I am considering resigning from their employment. Have consulted with another company but don’t want to leave the ladies I am working for at the moment.

My undrstanding is that the Torah states we should not steal. According to all guidelines I find on the internet taking equipment from your employers, signing for hours you have not worked, taking money for hours you have not worked, and confirming you have worked time, and not being at the place of employment all constitute Employee Theft.

Am I correct, or could I have accepted the money. (Had I done so my conscience would have plagued me, and the possibility that I could be accused of theft and even jailed when found out is adequate prevention).

Your reply would be appreciated.

Best Regards and thank you.

Answer:

You are 100% right not to take the money. The money was not given as a gift, but was given under the assumption that the work was actually done, when if fact it was note. It is therefore theft and deception to take the money, and you are right to be adamant in your refusal to take it.

There are many people who consider theft from the State, or from the municipality, as a permitted deed. Various explanations are given for this, such as “they steal from us,” “their tax allocation is unfair,” and so on. This logic (in my opinion) is very flawed, and stealing from the State is parallel to all forms of stealing. If we permit stealing from the State, we can also permit stealing from corporations (not people), and we will end up stealing from our next door neighbors.

Be strong in your way, and you will surely not lose out from it.

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1 Comment

  1. Thank you so much for your prompt reply. It is really appreciated and sets my mind at rest.

    Shalom

    Shulamith Lotter

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