By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

Rabbi Ari Wasserman’s “Making It Work” is exactly what it says it is and much more. The subtitle is “A Practical Guide to Halacha in the Workplace.” The sefer has seven sections – each one of them addressing head-on the most challenging issues of the workplace environment. The book is comprehensive, very accurate, and an excellent model for how to write a practical guide manual to any field or any area. The chapters are properly named and reflect the content very well – something that makes it very easy to use.

It begins with Kiddush Hashem in the workplace and devotes a good 58 pages to that issue. Aside from the halacha, Rabbi Wasserman collects stories culled from headlines, history books and, well, just stories that have been told to him. We read about the fabulous Kiddush Hashem that Ben Brafman made – walking away from a post courtroom victory PR opportunity because he had to go into Shabbos. That is truly a Kiddush Hashem. We also read about a defense that Rav Meir Shapiro provided in the Mendel Beilus trial in Slabodka over 100 years ago. It deals with wearing a Yarmulkah to work, how to handle the job interview and business meetings in non-kosher environments.

The next section deals with the particular challenges of work in terms of the stress it places on davening with a minyan and one’s commitment to Torah study. The author’s advice is practical, effective, and reflects a deep wisdom. It is no wonder that this sefer has received glowing haskamos from Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky, Rav yaakov Hillel and many other Gedolim. One particular story the author cites is found in a Teshuva of Rav Shternbach (Vol. I #98) about coming on time to minyan. Rav Chaim Volozhin once hired wagons to go surrounding villages so that they could pray in a minyan.

The third section deals with maintaining Kedusha – issues of yichud, handshaking, and the challenges of public transportation commutes. In terms of the handshake between opposite genders, the author cites most Poskim who forbid it, but does mention the lenient views of Rav Willig and Rav Schachter about what he calls a “dead fish” handshake which is based upon a lenient ruling of the Shach. Everyone, of course, should ask his own Rav or Moreh Horaah on what to do in each case. Believe it or not, I once spoke to a leading Posaik about fist-bumping – who preffered that method to handshaking.

The fourth section deals with issues of workplace socialization – the office parties, holiday gifts, etc. The halachic discussions are comprehensive and accurate.

The fifth section deals with honesty and integrity in the workplace. Using one’s time properly when working for an employer. There is a story of Dayan Dunner who felt that the coffee in the Beis Din office was purchased for the secretaries, not the Dayanim. Even after the secretary had purchased separate coffee just for him – he expressed concern about the electricity being used to make the coffee. The author does cite the idea of minhag hamedinah, or industry norms, as being the operative factor, but still – it is good to read and learn about lifnim mishuras hadin – going the extra yard.

The sixth section deals with issues of Mesirah and reporting wrongdoing in the office.

The last section deals with Tzedaka and Maaser, following the law of the land, and the issue of taxes in halacha.
This reviewer thoroughly enjoyed learning through this sefer. There is no question that it makes the perfect gift for anyone in the workplace or about to enter into it. Aside for its halachic accuracy in a vast area – it is a fun read – with hard-hitting fascinating stories. It is this author’s view that this sefer will become an indispensable classic. The sefer is available in fine seforim stores and is distributed by Feldheim.

The reviewer can be reached at [email protected].