Managing the Sacred

Section 32 (1) of the South African Constitution provides that a person has the right of access to any information that is held by another person that is required for the exercise of protecting those rights. Financial statements are a crucial component of the financial reporting process and has been the central  device for over a hundred years that provides the apparatus for organizations to disseminate information to those who have the right of access to such information. It is important that Jewish Organizations understand that it’s not the only the South African Constitution that obligates them to produce sufficient and appropriate information in their financial statements but a sequence of Torah based instances. These instances create a halachic obligation.
Maintaining accounting records was first practiced in the house of Potiphar. In Genesis, the verse, "And it came to pass on a certain day, when he [Joseph] went into the house to do his work" (39:11), is interpreted by Onkelos, as "to examine the book of accounts." Even when the Israelites were in the desert, Moses recognized the importance of keeping accurate records. The Israelites had contributed various precious metals to the construction of the Tabernacle, and Moses took scrupulous care to record the total amount of precious metals used. Keeping honest records was so important that the Torah enumerates the quantities of gold, silver, and copper that were donated and how they were used The Torah states, in Exodus: "These are the accounts of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were calculated according to the commandment of Moses" (38:21-31). Moses realized the importance of making a full accounting of all contributions, and commanded others to, in effect, do a proper audit so that the Israelites would not suspect that any gold was stolen. Moses was probably the first individual to use an outside auditor. The Midrash notes in Exodus Rabbah, "though Moses was the sole treasurer, yet he called others to audit the accounts with him" (51:1).
The Torah states: "and you shall be innocent before God and Israel" (32:22). From this verse the Talmud derives the principle that one must behave in a manner that does not give rise to suspicions on the part of others. For instance, the Talmud Bavli, in Pesachim, states that the overseers in charge of the soup kitchen were not allowed to purchase surplus food for their own needs if there were no poor people to distribute it to. Surpluses could be sold only to others so as not to arouse suspicion that the charity treasurers were profiting from public funds (13a). The Talmud relates how the family of Garmu, which made the showbread for the Second Temple, was especially careful to be above suspicion; the children were never seen with fine bread (Yuma 38a). According to the Babylonian Talmud, in Shekalim, those who entered the temple chamber to collect the money needed for sacrifices did not wear clothing with pockets or other receptacles "because a person must be above suspicion before people as well as before God'' (3:2).
Jewish organizations must behave in a manner that does not cause others to be suspicious. Thus, financial statements issued any Jewish organization should clearly state all assumptions made, and be as honest and understandable as possible. Auditors and the preparers of the financial statements must truly be outsiders who are not afraid to blow the whistle if an organization’s books are questionable.
Each and every member of the community is in some form or another solicited to make a donation to an organization. Effective corporate governance leads to increased public trust and a greater willingness by the community to donate funds and services. Transparency and accountability are two crucial ingredients of corporate governance that need to be functional if the community is to continue funding the good work done by our scared Jewish Organizations. In this context the Torah states, in Leviticus: "You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God—I am your Lord" (19:14). In addition to the literal meaning, the word "blind" is interpreted figuratively to represent any person that is unaware or unsuspecting. Thus, one obligated to provide sufficient and appropriate information in financial statements to ensure transparency and accountability
Organizations that are not careful with financial statements, and thereby mislead others are guilty of this "placing a stumbling block before the blind." Members of the community rely on financial statements, and have a right to assume that they are accurate. Jewish Organizations must use their financial statements to communicate the a true and fair state of their affairs.
Maintaining honest weights and measures is an explicit precept of the Torah. The Torah states, in Leviticus: "Just scales, just weights, just dry measures, and just liquid measures you shall have" (19:35-36). According to the Talmud Bavli, in Bava Bathra, market commissioners were appointed to supervise businesses using weights and measures (89a). The Talmud was so concerned with honest weights and measures that shopkeepers were instructed to clean their scales after every weighing (88a), and not to pour liquid rapidly from a great height because this generates foam and decreases the amount of liquid (89b). The prohibition of false weights and measures was so strong that one was not permitted to keep an inaccurate weight or measure in his house, even if it was to be used as a chamber pot (89b). Honest weights and measures would also seem to include keeping honest accounting records and presenting true and fair financial statements to the members of the community.​