Saturday, 22 February 2020

Mussar: Hilchot Ona'at D'varim

 originally published on 03/24/12


Shulchan Aruch, Chelek Choshen Mishpat, Siman 228, Sif 4:

Some specific examples of hurting people with words [onaat devarim] [that are forbidden by the Torah]:

• Do NOT say [to a storekeeper]: How much [money] are you selling this item for? if you do not want to buy that item.

• Do NOT say to people who want to buy grain: Go to Mr. Ploni, if you know that Mr. Ploni has no [grain] to sell.

• Do NOT say to a person who repented from his sins [baal teshuvah]: Remember your previous [sinful] deeds.

• Do NOT say to a person who converted to Judaism: Remember the deeds of your ancestors.

• Do NOT speak to a person who suffers the way the friends of Iyov [Job] spoke* to him.

• ...Do NOT ask a question about a topic, if you know that the person you ask does not know that topic.

And all things that are similar to these.

* NOTE: Tractate Baba Metzia 58B, last thin line on page, teaches that it is wrong to harshly criticize a suffering person. by telling him that his suffering was caused by his sins. For example, the Biblical Book of Iyov [Job], chapter 4, verse 7.

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Courtesy of: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DerechEmet/

Shalom,
RRW

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