Fixing a mistake is inconvenient. When we realize we accidentally overcharged someone for a minor amount, it is tempting to just let it go rather than deal with the hassle of making it right.
A blacksmith named Eliezer Reuven once accidentally mixed up the payments of two customers, overcharging one by six groshen (pennies). Realizing his error after they left, he closed his shop and walked three miles in the sweltering heat to return the money.
When a friend asked him why he went to such extreme lengths for mere pennies, he replied, “At the time of Noach’s flood, people were so wicked they would rob anyone of anything... Do you want me to be so much worse than they were, and rob a man of six whole groshen?”
Nugget: Rectifying a financial mistake isn't about the dollar amount. It is about actively choosing what kind of person you are going to be in the world.
Warmly,
Rabbi Levi Landa
Director, Project 432
Get the nuggets straight to your inbox, subscribe at this link.
These prevention nuggets provide general perspective about the law and do not constitute legal advice. The law often changes based on jurisdiction. For advice regarding your specific situation, please consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
.avif)