The Oath

The MBA oath is a voluntary pledge for graduating MBAs to “create value responsibly and ethically.” Our goal is to begin a widespread movement of MBAs who aim to lead in the interests of the greater good and who have committed to living out the principles articulated in the oath.

In the Shema Yisroel/Listen Israel the seminal Jewish statement of six words proclaiming, God’s omnipresence in the world is followed by the directive to love God with all your heart, soul and Moad/More; the Talmud-Book of Law says the “More” refers to money. How does one serve God with money? By being responsible for the money.

Masses of money like masses of people can together accomplish what can not be done by the individual or the coin; two people together can carry more than the sum of each apart. It use to be, not so long ago when people did not rely upon the government, that the rich people in the community were the safety net to society. The Torah teaches to honor the rich because God has bestowed upon them wealth, but at the same time rich people have to recognize there responsibility to the whole.

The Cabala equates money with Kesof/Silver a word which can also mean unbridled desire. Everyone knows unbridled desire is a very dangerous thing warranting the use of an oath of responsibility.