Certainly the same was true of business. Think of the contrast between the King in the book of Deuteronomy, ever mindful of his subservience to the law of God, and Sherman McCoy, remember him from the protagonist of Tom Wolfe's wickedly funny book Bonfire of the Vanities. He who called himself Master of the Universe. You must have heard the story about the young rabbinical students sent down to a small town in the south where the workers were on a strike at a textile plant owned by the Temple's largest contributor. Because on your fast day, you pursue your own affairs, while you oppress all your workers.
Businesses are in business to make money.
Yet, Jewish law would place limitations on what any business may do to achieve that goal. A Christian commentator recently noted that in medieval society, where religion was at the center of the life of the individual and the community, the most imposing buildings were the cathedrals. Today in most communities, the newest and grandest buildings were built or sponsored by business. Business is the most powerful force in the world right now and business sets the tone for our society. How very important it is then that business remember its ethical obligations.