Daily Mitzvah

The 315th prohibition is that we are forbidden from cursing a judge.

The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "You shall not curse the judges."

One who transgresses this prohibition is punished with lashes.

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Ex. 22:27.

The 281st prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from hearing the claims of one of litigants if the other is not present.

The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not accept a false report."

The reason for this prohibition is that the majority of claims brought by one litigant without the other being present are false. The Torah therefore prohibited the judge from hearing such words, in order to keep him from having false and improper ideas in his mind.

The Mechilta2 says, "The verse, 'Do not accept a false report,' prohibits a judge from hearing the claim of one litigant without the other being present, and prohibits the litigant from speaking to the judge without the other litigant being present." Regarding this same prohibition the Torah commands,3 "Keep away from anything false," as explained in the 4th chapter of tractate Shavuos.4

Our Sages said that this prohibition also includes the prohibition against speaking loshon hora, listening to loshon hora, and giving false testimony, as explained in tractate Makkos.5

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Ibid., 23:1.

2.

Ibid.

3.

Ibid. 23:7.

4.

31a.

5.

23a.

The 316th prohibition is that we are forbidden from cursing a Nasi.1

The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "A Nasi of your people do not curse."

The term Nasi is used in Scripture to refer to a king who has ruling authority, as in G‑d's statement,3 "If the Nasi sins..." As used in the words of our Sages, it refers solely to the head of the 70-member Sanhedrin. Throughout the Talmud and Mishneh we find mention of, "Nesi'im and heads of the High Court"; "Nasi and head of the High Court."4 Our Sages also said,5 "If a Nasi wants to overlook his honor, his honor may be overlooked. If a king wants to overlook his honor, his honor may not be overlooked."6

You should be aware that this prohibition includes both the Nasi [mentioned in the Talmud] and the king. The mitzvah comes to prohibit cursing anyone who is in the highest position of authority, regardless of whether his authority is in rulership [i.e., the king] or in Torah, i.e. the Yeshivah. This is apparent from the detailed description of this mitzvah.

One who transgresses this prohibition is punished with lashes.

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

A leader (see below).

2.

Ex. 22:27

3.

Lev. 4:22.

4.

See Chagigah 16b.

5.

Sanhedrin 19b.

6.

It is therefore clear that when the Sages use the term "Nasi," they do not refer to a King. Nevertheless, as the Rambam continues, this prohibition applies to both cases.