תלמוד בבלי סוכה כט:
אמר רב בשביל ארבעה דברים נכסי בעלי בתים יוצאין לטמיון:
על כובשי שכר שכיר ועל עושקי שכר שכיר ועל שפורקין עולמעל צואריהן ונותנין על חבריהן ועל גסות הרוח גסות הרוח כנגד כולן אבל בענוים כתיב +תהלים לז+ וענוים יירשו ארץ והתענגו על רב שלום
Rav said, "For four things, property-owners' possessions are expropriated by the Romans:
For withholding employees' wages, and for stealing employees' wages, and for casting off the yoke from their neck and putting it on their fellows, and for arrogance. And arrogance is equal to them all."
But about the poor it is written, "The meek shall inherit the earth, and rejoice in great peace" (Psalm 37:11).
[translation by Mechon Hadar]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What is the connection between character traits and financial interactions that Rav is articulating?
2. What is the structure of the worker-employer-government relationship according to Rav? What are its implications for thinking about work and taxation today?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)