by
Rabbi Michael Laitner

Parshat Behar

Why is the injunction against causing grief repeated? Rashi, the major Torah commentator, explains that the first example refers to monetary matters (ona’at mammon), while the second refers to the way in which we speak to or about other people (ona’at devarim). These are two separate mitzvot in the Torah (Talmud Bava Metzia 58b).

In his comments on the first mitzvah, the author of the medieval mitzva compendium, Sefer Hachinuch, explains that business must be conducted fairly. A serious approach to business including respect for proper payment, prices and people’s time is essential for a properly functioning market. As one example in the Mishna (ibid) provides, it is not acceptable to waste a merchant’s time while only feigning an interest to purchase his goods.

The second mitzva prohibits callous or insensitive speech. As the Mishna continues, one should not remind a ba’al teshuva (literally a penitent in a particular aspect, not just a newly-observant person) of their previous prohibited actions. As Sefer Hachinuch explains, this is not only correct and humble behaviour, but allied with averting arguments, is vital for a peaceful society.

Rashi comments that the addition of the phrase, ‘and you shall fear G-d’, emphasises that G-d knows our intentions in this respect and that we cannot pretend to act altruistically. The Talmud concludes that ona’at devarim is the more severe of these mitzvot.

Rambam (Maimonides), gives more practical details of these mitzvot, particularly with reference to vulnerable people and to causing embarrassing or unfair situations. These are codified in the Laws of Sale (chap.14) and they are also included in the Shulchan Aruch, the major code of Jewish Law (Section Choshen Mishpat 128).