Explore Laws of relationships at Neshama Sheli: articles and reading collections about Jewish life. Discover the section and related topics for further reading.
The prohibition ‘You shall not covet’ 1. The Torah states (Deuteronomy, 5:18): “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male slave, his female slave…
The prohibition against oppressing others (lo tirdeh vo befarech) 27. There is an opinion that it is forbidden to subjugate others, because the Torah says: “And among your brothers, the children of I…
The Prohibition Against Hurting Others and Causing Distress (Ona’at Devarim) 23. It is forbidden to delay court proceedings without cause or to turn away a person who has come for advice. 24. The pro…
The Prohibition Against Hurting Others and Causing Distress (ona'at devarim) 20. One may not frighten other people, for example, by suddenly shouting behind someone's back, unexpectedly jumping out i…
The prohibition against causing offense and suffering (ona’at devarim) 16. A person who habitually elevates his own stature by shaming another person loses his share in the World to Come. This applie…
The prohibition against causing hurt and suffering (ona’at devarim) 11. When a shopkeeper does not have the product a customer needs, he may not send customers to another shop if he knows that it, to…
The prohibition against causing hurt and suffering (ona'at devarim) 10. It is forbidden to remind someone of an illness or physical impairment they have. The same applies to someone experiencing dist…
The prohibition against insulting people and causing suffering (ona'at devarim) 7. You must not say to a Jew who has returned to Torah observance, or to someone who violated a commandment in the past…
The prohibition against causing hurt and suffering (ona’at devarim) 5. The Sages warn especially against causing pain to one’s wife. A wife is more sensitive to her husband’s words and actions, and h…
The prohibition against hurting others and causing suffering (ona’at devarim) 1. It is written in the Torah (Leviticus, 25:17): “Do not hurt one another, and fear the Almighty.” This refers to the pr…
The prohibition against shaming and insulting others (halbanat panim) 6. You must not address another person by a nickname that may hurt him. Even if he is already used to it, you may not do so if yo…
The prohibition against shaming and insulting others (halbanat panim) 2. One of the Torah's commandments obligates a person to warn his fellow in time about a possible transgression (see Leviticus 19…