Lifnei Iver - Broader Understanding

QUESTION: The Torah states in this past week’s parsha, V’lifnei iver lo sitain michshol (Vayikra 19:14). The literal meaning is, “And before a blind man, do not place a stumbling block”. Is there a broader understanding of this restriction?

ANSWER: Chazal interpret the phrase (Vayikra 19:14) “V’lifnei iver lo sitain michshol” allegorically: Do not offer bad or misleading advice to someone who is “blind”, in the sense of uninformed. For example, do not recommend to someone to sell his field if you know that this is not in his best interest. One who does so has violated the Torah prohibition of lifnei iver. Included in this prohibition as well is enabling someone to sin, as this is as harmful as offering bad advice. For example, if a nazir asks you to pass a cup of wine that is inaccessible to him, it is forbidden to do so. It is even forbidden to enable someone to transgress a Rabbinic prohibition. Teshuvos Pnei Yehoshua (CM 9) writes that doing so is a Torah violation, even though the transgression is Rabbinic, because this is subsumed under offering bad advice. However, the Mishneh Lamelech (Malveh 4:2) implies that enabling someone to transgress a Rabbinic prohibition is only a Rabbinic violation. 

What about placing a stumbling block in front of a blind person – is this also included in the Torah prohibition? The Mishneh Lamelelch writes that this is a Rabbinic prohibition, as the primary mitzvah is not to offer bad advice. On the other hand, the Minchas Chinuch (232:4) is inclined to say that it would be a Torah prohibition, in line with the general rule,“ain mikra yotzei mi’dei p’shuto” (the literal meaning always remains true), but he leaves the question unresolved. On the other hand, the Meshech Chochma (Vayikra 19:14) writes unequivocally that the literal translation of tripping a blind person is also included in the prohibition. He therefore rules that digging pits in a public area that can cause damage is a Torah prohibition. 

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.