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Introduction to החיתפ
Sefer Chafetz Chayim םייח ץפח רפסל
Laveen - L15
ט-ח ואל - ןיואל

Be’er Mayim Chayim ןיב תקולחמ אפוגד ארעצ ורעיצ םא ונירבדמ אצויה

(L15) If these people were orphans or widows: This is the opinion אקיפסו ונממ םוקנל הרותה ןמ רתומ םא םינושארה
th
of the Rambam in the sixth perek of Hilchot De'Aut in the 10 halacha. אוה וילע ול שיש הלועה םא לבא .ארמוחל אתירואד
What I wrote above “He degraded them” is based on the language used
by the Rambam in his Sefer HaMitzvot (mitzvah (Lav) #256), that we are לכב ונממ םוקנל רוסא אמלע ילוכל ןוממ ינינע רובע
cautioned against tormenting orphans and widows. As the pasuk teaches .םינפב ש"מכ אנווג
“Do not torment any widow or orphan.” This warning of the Torah applies
to verbal torment or torment caused by some action. The Torah is warning
us to speak nicely and softly to them. This is the Rambam's language in
Hilchot De'Aut: People are obligated to be careful in their dealings with ונקתעהש םיארי רפסה ירבדמ ונירבד לע השקת לאו
widows and orphans. How should one behave with them? One should ןומממ אקודד הרואכל הינימ עמשמד הלעמל וירבד
speak softly to them and extend to them any courtesy or honor. One should
not cause them to work too hard (to the point where their bodies ache) and הז תוליכר וא ר"השל וילע רביד םא לבא ןוממל
not cause them any emotional anguish with harsh words. One should be ריבסהל קר םיאריה תנווכד וניא הזד ןוממ יוה אל
concerned about preserving their assets even more than one would protect
one's own wealth. Anyone who instigates against them or angers them םוקנל רתומ ףוגה רעצ ורעיצ םאד ארמגה עדי אנמ
or causes them pain or forces labor upon them or causes them to lose הזלו ינווג לכב הרותה הרסא אמליד ונממ רוטנלו
their wealth violates this Lav. And all the more so is this the case if one
hits them or curses them. Although there are no lashes given for violating ורעיצ אוהש המד תודימ ג"ימ תחאב םיאריה ריבסה
this Lav, the Torah’s punishment is explicit “My wrath will be aroused אפוג הריטנהו המיקנה לבא ןוממ ינינעב היה הליחתמ
and I will kill you by the sword.” There is a covenant decreed by The
-One-Who-Spoke-and-Created-the-Universe that as long as widows and ירהד ז"ע היארו ינווג לכב הרסאד יאדו הרותה הרסאש
orphans are oppressed to the extent that they are forced to cry up because ןומממ רומח אפוגד ארעצד ל"נה אמויד ארמגמ עמשמ
of theft or violence done to them they will be answered, as the pasuk says
“when they cry up to Me.” And when is that? When their well-being is יכיה ו"כאע ןוממב רוטנלו םוקנל הרותה הרסאד ןויכו
being physically threatened by an oppressor. But if a rav “oppresses” them ג"י לש דומילהד ירה רוסאד ףוגה רעצב היהי המיקנהד
in order to teach them Torah or a trade or to help them along a correct path
in life then this coercion is allowable. ןויכד דועו .הליחתמ ורעיצ אוהש המב קר יאק אל תודמ
ונחכוהש ומכ רוטנל דבל בלב וליפא הרותה הרסאש
Even so, they should not be treated like everyone else. Instead, one should
differentiate between them and other people, one should treat them gently ינווג לכב רוסא אליממ םיקסופ ראשו ם"במרהמ ליעל
and with great compassion and dignity and honor because the pasuk says בותכה תרזגד קר יכה אמית אל יאד ,הריטנהו המיקנה
(Mishle 22:23) “because Hashem will fight their battles.” (The Rambam
is quoted up until this point). The Se’Mag holds the same opinion in his רעצב ורעצל רתומ לבא רוסא ןוממל ןומממ אקוד
commentary on Lav #8. In a similar sense, Rabbeinu Yonah writes in ונבתכש ומכ יאדו אלא בלב רטונ אוה פ"כע כ"א ףוגה
Shaare Teshuvah (3 sha’ar section # 24, in the middle of that section)
rd
“Whoever bothers or torments or annoys a widow or an orphan, either by .ינווג לכב יריימד הריטנד אימוד המיקנו
stealing from them in any manner or by shaming them or causing them any
kind of anguish, is guilty and will be punished with death by Heaven.” The
Chinuch holds the same opinion in mitzvah #65, that even if they endure

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