Q&A: Does the Torah Have an Economic Approach?
Does the Torah Have an Economic Approach?
Question
Hello Rabbi.
Does the Torah have an economic approach that can be identified with one of the approaches that exist today (such as socialism or capitalism), or does the Torah not have a specific approach and is it something in its own right? And where do we learn this from—from the Torah itself, or in general from the words of the Sages such as the Talmud? After all, the Tannaim and Amoraim most likely spoke in accordance with the prevailing policy in the countries in which they lived.
Thank you very much!
Answer
I’ve already written more than once that I don’t see any such approach. The Torah expects us to behave properly and rightly, and the decision of what is proper is entrusted to us. In the words of the medieval authorities (Rishonim) and the halakhic decisors, perhaps one can find hints of such things (although in my opinion certainly not a systematic approach), but that really isn’t important. Each person spoke from his own outlook, and that is not “the Torah.”