Rabbi Levine, I Mean Lapin

When I was growing up in Seattle, there was the ubiquitous Rabbi Raphael Levine in all forms of media, bringing a Jewish perspective to current events.  Today there is Rabbi Daniel Lapin, whose focus is on business.  When I try to recall his name, Levine pops up first.

Anyway, the bible is full of business advice, and the good Rabbi shares this in a newsletter this week:

The Israelites beseech their new king to lower taxes.  He responds by instructing them to depart for three days and then return. And he (Rehoboam) said to them: “Go away for three, days then return to me…” (I Kings 12:5) Clearly, he had no intention of lightening the yoke.  When they return three days later, he tells them that he is going to increase their burden significantly.  Since he already knew what he would say, why did he send them away for three days, rather than immediately giving them the bad news? Ancient Jewish wisdom explains that King Rehoboam recognized that the Israelite delegation was presenting an ultimatum.  They approached him as potential rebels.

It is an interesting explication of negotiation.  You can sign up for his weekly blurb here...

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