LEV816 We are forbidden to deceive anyone when measuring or weighing. The Torah forbids us to deceive both Jews and non-Jews when measuring or weighing (Choshen Mishpot 231:1; Chinuch 258). Furthermore, it is the fulfillment of a positive commandment to weigh and measure accurately (Chinuch 259). The Talmud states that the punishment for inaccurate measuring is more severe than the punishment for incest. Someone who committed incest can repent. Complete repentance for someone who constantly deceives the public in weights or measures, however, is almost impossible, since it is obligatory to return that which was stolen to every individual who was cheated. (Bava Basra 88b and Rashbam). The Chofetz Chayim wrote a pamphlet entitled Kuntros Midos Umishkolos on this topic. He wrote that the enumerated scales, weights, ephah and hin to stress the severity of this prohibition; every type of deception being explicitly prohibited. A person must be very careful to ensure that whenever he sells something, he gives the customer the correct amount. A storekeeper must make sure that his weights are clean, since whenever something sticks to a weight it will be inaccurate. (Choshen Mishpot 231:12). Rabbi Yisroel Salanter said, "Just as the Rabbi of a city is responsible for checking the knives of the shochtim (ritual slaughters) for blemishes, so too must he check the weights and measures of the storekeepers." (Tnuas Hamussar, vol. 1, pp. 304-5).