“…for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous (in judgement).” (Devarim 16:19)

The following story, which I heard in my youth, illustrates the above Pasuk: The Shach (Shabbsai ben Meir HaKohen 1621–1662) was involved in a din Torah with another man. Though a great talmid chacham, the Shach felt it was only right to go to Beis Din. The other party, wary of local bias due to the Shach’s reputation as a Tzadik, requested a hearing in a distant community where the Shach was unknown. Both sides presented their arguments to the dayanim in this far-off Beis Din, and to the Shach’s surprise, he lost the case. He asked one of the dayanim for the basis of the ruling, and he learned it was drawn from a nearly identical case in a new sefer on Choshen Mishpat, the Sifsei Kohen – authored by none other than the Shach himself. The Dayan, unaware that he was speaking with the author of the Sifsei Kohen, had ruled impartially! The Shach said he now understood the above verse’s warning: even talmidei chachamim can be blinded by money.

I believe it is important to share another perspective on this verse, which is from an incident in my youth. There was a dayan who started to lose his eyesight.  Someone remarked that it is obvious why he is losing his eyesight – he must have taken bribes, as the verse clearly says a bribe will blind the wise! I rejected this explanation as it was lashon hora, or most probably moetzee shem ra, but that comment lingered with me.

More recently, I learned of a student of the Arizal, also a dayan, who would accept money for ruling on Choshen Mishpat cases in a manner that was 100% halachically permissible. Nevertheless, when he lost his vision, rumors spread that it was due to accepting bribes. In response he went to shul, and in front of the entire congregation prayed, “Hashem, restore my sight in order to show that I never took a bribe.” Miraculously, his vision returned on the spot. From then on, he would sign his name with the prescript, “Hashem, who performed a miracle for me.” This teaches us that even the appearance of bribery was enough of a reason to be punished.

This lesson is relevant to many of us, especially in financial matters. I’m often asked about transactions that are technically permissible but feel questionable, as my rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Halberstam (1932–2006), would say, “it smells fishy”, as it was similar to something which was forbidden. Therefore, I advise people not to do it. In similar situations, my Rebbe, would often ask the questioner, “Do you eat only glatt kosher?” When they confidently replied, “Yes, only glatt”, he would gently respond, “This may be allowed, but it’s not glatt.” His point was clear: In financial dealings, it is not enough for something to be technically permissible; it must be clear of even a hint of impropriety.

As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, when we stand in judgment before Hashem, He will examine how we handle other people’s money and whether we stay far from the line of scrimmage.

May we merit a record untainted by anything that even resembles bribery in our financial conduct.