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Dvorah bat Miriam
Robbing somebody of his time in also a form of theft. The working hours of a hired laborer, whether he is employed on an hourly, daily or monthly basis, belong to his employer. The worker's time is not his own, and therefore any preoccupation with things not connected to work during working hours is considered outright theft.
Jewish Sages exempted laborers from reciting traditional blessings said before and after eating bread so that they not be detracted from their work any more than necessary. In addition, laborers were permitted to continue their work uninterruptedly while reciting so central a prayer as the "Shema," by heart. If this was the attitude of the Rabbis regarding the precedence of labor even when it clashed with religious obligations, clearly it is forbidden to occupy oneself with mundane acts which detract from the work load. If, one defiantly went ahead and behaved in such a manner he is, in fact, guilty of theft.
True, in our days things have changed and we can assume that employers are not so strict with their employees that they prefer they did not bless on the job. Yet even today, while the permissible is permissible, when it comes to those things which the boss is particular about and of which he disapproves, it is forbidden for the employee to do them, regardless of whether or not he is satisfied with his wages. Even if he believes that he is being taken advantage of, there is absolutely no justification for being slack in one's work as a result. Nothing permits straying from the working conditions which one originally agreed to. It makes no difference whether he works in a private factory, a public factory, or a state factory. The prohibition against theft does not change. There is no difference between an administrator or a laborer.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
12 - 12. Greed and the Prohibition Against Theft
13 - 13. Theft in the Work Place and in General
14 - 14. Caution Regarding Sexual Immorality
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It is told that Rabbi Aba Helkiya, while working as a paid laborer, was approached by some Torah scholars while in the middle of work. Though greeted by them he would not even reply "Shalom," so as not to disrupt the work assigned him by his employer. Our forefather Jacob, too, said, "In the daytime I was consumed by drought and in the evening by frost, and my sleep fled from my eyes." Jacob had worked loyally and devotedly for his master Lavan despite the fact that Lavan did not treat him properly.
The employer, of course, must also be fair towards his employees and not take advantage of them. He must pay them a fair wage for their efforts, and not exploit the fact that it is difficult to find work, paying a low wage which is not in keeping with accepted standards. If he does this, becoming wealthy at the expense of his employees, though he may not be guilty of outright theft, he is not completely clean of all semblance of theft and the other transgressions connected with it.
For the sorts of transgressions which effect one's fellow man even Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, cannot atone. Until a person has gone and asked forgiveness from his fellow man, there is no atonement. If the employer does not forgive his employee - the employee remains unforgiven; and if the employee does not forgive his employer for taking advantage of him through exaggerated underpayment - he, too, is not forgiven.
Even if a person performs a Mitzvah while on the job, it will not be to his merit, rather it will be seen as a transgression. In this vein our Sages teach that "One who steals a measure of wheat, and then proceeds to grind it into flour, to bake it, and, before eating, to recite the blessing over it, is not blessing, but profaning, as it is written, 'And the thief who blesses profanes God.'"
One must, then, become accustomed to distancing himself from anything even resembling theft, not to mention actual outright theft. Instead of desiring other people's wealth one must develop a sense of loathing and repulsion regarding the taking of money which is not his. Money which does not belong to him should appear disgusting to him, so much so that he be unable to enjoy it at all, rather his pleasure be derived only from his own money which he earned honestly and justly, through the labor of his own hands.
Because theft is so repulsive in the eyes of God - "The abomination of the Lord, your God, are all who do these," - it is not enough that one refuse to steal time and money from others, the mere thought of such behavior ought to strike one as repulsive. When this has become the case one will most certainly distance himself from it.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
