28. Specific Cases of Embarrassment

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchot Bein Adam L’Chaveiro

1.  One should be particularly sensitive in how one speaks or acts around individuals with specific sensitivities. This includes, but is not limited to, those who have certain types of physical or mental ailments, those with difficulty having children, converts, those who come from different backgrounds than others in their community, or complex family situations. One should make sure not to speak insensitively about these topics with, or in proximity to, these individuals (see Shulchan Aruch C.M. 228).

2.  One may not give someone a degrading job to do that will embarrass them. Other specific cases where one must be careful not to embarrass others pertain to constructive criticism, or the like, of students or children, even when one needs to rebuke them (cases where embarrassing someone is permitted will be discussed in an upcoming post).