The concept of “lifnei iver” (“in front of a blind person”) refers to the prohibition of putting a stumbling block in front of the blind. This principle is derived from a verse in the Torah and is expanded upon in the Talmud. It encompasses the broader idea of not causing others to sin or leading them astray, both within the Jewish community and beyond.
The primary source for the prohibition of lifnei iver is found in Leviticus (Vayikra) 19:14: “You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” This verse establishes the principle of not causing harm or taking advantage of those who are vulnerable or unaware.
The Talmudic tractate of Avodah Zarah 6b further discusses the concept of lifnei iver. One example relates to selling prohibited items to idolaters, especially right before one of their holidays. While Jews are prohibited from benefiting from the sale of idolatrous objects, it is also forbidden to sell such items to idolaters themselves, as this would enable them to commit a sin. This aveira (sin) extends beyond idolatry and applies to all other areas of Jewish law as well.
The principle of lifnei iver can be understood on multiple levels:
- Literal sense: On a literal level, the prohibition forbids placing an actual obstacle in front of a blind person, which could cause them physical harm. This highlights the importance of empathy and protecting those who are vulnerable.
- Metaphorical sense: Beyond the literal interpretation, the concept of lifnei iver extends to metaphorical stumbling blocks. It includes actions or behaviors that may lead others astray or encourage them to engage in sinful behavior. This prohibition emphasizes the responsibility to promote positive influences and discourage harmful actions. This is almost always spoken of in terms of spiritual harm, such as improperly labelling food as kosher, or misrepresenting the Torah.
The mitzvah of lifnei iver has broader implications for interpersonal relationships and communal responsibility:
- Within the Jewish community: The principle of lifnei iver applies to interactions within the Jewish community. It requires individuals to be mindful of their words, actions, and influence, ensuring they do not cause others to transgress Jewish law. This includes refraining from encouraging others to violate commandments or engaging in dishonest practices that may lead others astray. This can be direct, like directly asking a non-religious person to work on Shabbat, or indirect such as saying publically “my lights went out” that might encourage someone to want to help thereby violating Shabbat. The gemara Mo’ed Katan (17) sites prohibits a father from hitting his son as this might anger him as to hit back, a capital offense in Jewish law.
- Relations with non-Jews: While the primary focus of Jewish law is on the Jewish community, the responsibility to not cause others to sin or engage in wrongdoing, whether spiritual matters as mentioned before, or civil crimes such as theft, applies universally. This emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct and moral responsibility towards all people.
- Personal oaths: Even if there is not a matter of Torah law that could be broken, handing someone a cup of wine who has made a formal oath not to drink alcohol would be considered lifne iver. Since an oath is considered binding on the individual, it would be causing someone to break a vow.
- Other Aspects: In general, there are limits on how far down the chain lifne iver can go. For instance, if the individual might do a sin, but not definitely. Selling a plate of non-kosher food is an issue but selling a whole truckload is not because this will be for resale. Also, if it is something the individsual is seeking out and there are lots of other places to perform that sin, such as selling non-kosher food with other restaurants up and down the street, as he would simply go to those. In these cases, there are immense complexities and one should speak to a Rav first. No matter what, it is best to be involved in business that will not raise such problems in the first place.
The mitzvah of lifnei iver prohibits placing a stumbling block in front of the blind. This principle, based on the verse in Leviticus, expands to include not causing others to sin or leading them astray. It applies within the Jewish community and extends to interactions with non-Jews. The prohibition emphasizes empathy, ethical conduct, and the responsibility to promote positive influences while refraining from actions that could cause others to transgress commandments.
