As online connections become ubiquitous, an increasing number of ethical issues arise.  While social media outlets struggle with the balance between free speech, hate speech, and incitement; while Facebook users should struggle with sharing versus lashon hara, I believe that we should also consider a less volatile but important ethical concern.

As you use a search engine such as www.wikipedia.org or engage in some online studying such as through www.reformjudaism.org or www.myjewishlearning.org or www.sefaria.org (three of my favorites) do you have an ethical obligation to donate?  What about listening to a free webinar or going on Facebook live?

Judaism teaches a lot about business ethics.  In fact, we had an entire year of monthly study about that very topic last year.  Since we are commanded to engage in Jewish study and we are commanded not to steal, since we are commanded to not keep the wages of a laborer overnight, implying that people deserve a living wage, it seems only appropriate that we make donations according to our abilities to support the organizations that deepen our Jewish learning and connection.

Let us live our real world values even in cyber space.