Q&A: Question on the topic: Being careful not to encroach on someone else’s livelihood
Question on the topic: Being careful not to encroach on someone else’s livelihood
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi,
I would be glad to hear your advice based on Torah guidance.
The background to the question: I work in the medical field, in a very specific sub-specialty in which there are not many experts. On my team at the hospital there is a colleague who works closely with me, and since she is more senior than I am and has more experience, she is frequently invited to give professional trainings and workshops in the field. A few years ago she began teaching a specific course in this area, and it is the only course in the country of this scope and depth on this subject.
A few days ago, Maccabi Health Services approached me with a request to give a study day on topics that overlap with, and even parallel, the subjects of her course. It should be noted that Maccabi asked for a one-day workshop, whereas her course lasts several weeks. Also, the workshop is intended mainly for those who have already had some training in the field (although it is also open to those who have not).
On the other hand, from an internal inquiry I conducted, it turned out that they had approached her first, but she declined, claiming that it would hurt enrollment in the larger course that she teaches.
My question is whether there is any problem in Jewish law with accepting Maccabi’s offer.
I know that on a personal level she will be hurt by it, but in my opinion she was not right in her decision not to give the workshop, since there is a great need for knowledge and training in this field, and not everyone can take an expensive course that lasts several weeks. Therefore, I can justify to myself the possible harm to her and to our relationship. But it is not clear to me whether there is also some halakhic problem here.
I would appreciate your reply.
Miri
Answer
Hello Miri.
Let me begin by saying that I do not believe in the concept of “Torah guidance” in that sense. One can ask a rabbi a question of Jewish law, and he can answer as an expert in Jewish law. But one should not think that he has mystical abilities to hit upon the truth in other matters, nor even necessarily in Jewish law.
With those clarifications, in my opinion not only is there no prohibition here, but you are obligated to do it. After all, this will be medically beneficial to the people who learn the subject. Should you really withhold health-related help from people because of possible harm to some individual?
As for your relationship with your colleague, that is not a question of Jewish law but a practical one. Clearly, it is worth doing this gently, but making it clear to her that you think differently from her, and that in your opinion it is important to do this and therefore you decided to do it. This is not being done in order to hurt her, of course, and certainly not the other people (who in her view might perhaps be harmed). If you can, I would even approach her in advance and explain this to her. Take into account that you may hear arguments from her that will convince you that she is right. And if not, then both of you will understand that there is a difference of opinion between you, and each of you is acting according to the best of her understanding—and that is completely legitimate.