The Chofetz Chaim—Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin—once slipped on the steps outside his house as he exited in the morning on his way to shul. Watching the old rabbi tumble down, a couple of local lads began to snicker. Just then, one of them could be heard saying, “Did anybody order wine? Because I just saw a barrel roll down the stairs!” evoking raucous laughter from the crowd.
Throughout the remainder of the day, the Chofetz Chaim could not wipe the smile off his face. His students couldn’t understand why he was so happy. “Allow me to explain,” responded the saintly rabbi. “There is no man on earth who does not sin. Our iniquities are atoned for by suffering in this world. The lightest form of suffering is verbal assault and that is the form of atonement for which we all pray. But all day long, people treat me in the most exalted manner. Nobody dares insult the Chofetz Chaim! And then, today, for the first time in a very long time, these youths insulted me. Should I not rejoice at this rare opportunity for atonement?
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Today’s daf discusses the consequences of derogatory name-calling.
תַנְיָא הַקּוֹרֵא לַחֲבֵירוֹ עֶבֶד יְהֵא בְּנִידּוּי מַמְזֵר סוֹפֵג אֶת הָאַרְבָּעִים רָשָׁע יוֹרֵד עִמּוֹ לְחַיָּיו
רש”י: רשע יורד עמו לחייו—כלומר לזו אין ב”ד נזקקים אבל הוא מותר לשנאתו ואף למעט פרנסתו ולירד לאומנתו
“One who calls another a slave should be excommunicated. One who calls another a ‘bastard’ incurs the punishment of 40 lashes. If one calls another a ‘rasha’ (wicked), he descends with him into his life.”
“Rashi: If one calls another a “rasha” (wicked), he descends with him into his life—meaning that the court has no jurisdiction over this situation. However, the injured party is permitted to despise his assailant and even to diminish his livelihood and encroach upon his professional territory.”
The English versions of our Gemara translate “rasha” as “wicked one.” While that may be accurate, it doesn’t fully convey the meaning of the Gemara. Rasha is a catch-all term and the Gemara is referring to one who calls his fellow any name denoting wickedness, which includes a range of appellations: swindler, cheater, liar or any other term implying improper conduct.
What happens when he calls him a name like that? He “descends with him into his life,” an ambiguous expression, prompting the commentaries to offer various interpretations of the consequences of calling someone a “rasha.” According to Rashi, it means one may disrupt his efforts at earning a living. Ordinarily, it is forbidden to open a store right next-door to a merchant selling the same wares. But in this case, the basic code of business ethics is negated because the assailant defamed this man, thereby hurting his pocket. After all, who’d want to do business with a swindler?
Nevertheless, Rashi concludes that it’s hard to believe that our sages intended to open the door to vengeful behavior. Presumably, they were seeking to demonstrate the egregiousness of the assailant’s behavior. In his mind, calling his fellow “a rasha” was just a throwaway line, delivered in the heat of the moment. Meanwhile, those observing his outburst might take his accusation seriously and avoid doing business with this poor, innocent individual. To demonstrate the extent of his misconduct, they suggest that it’s so bad that it would even warrant the suspension of antitrust regulations.
So, if it’s not to be taken literally, what then does the expression, “He descends with him into his life,” imply? The most incredible opportunity presents itself when someone offends you and you don’t respond. Suddenly, a huge spiritual transfer takes place. You get his merits and he gets your demerits. After 120, you’ll appear before the heavenly court and see several mitzvos that will appear unfamiliar to you. “Look, I’m in the world of truth, so I have to let you know that you’ve got me confused with someone else. I didn’t perform those mitzvos that are showing up in my account!” You’ll exclaim.
Meanwhile, in the next courtroom over, another soul will be crying, “Where have all my mitzvos disappeared to? And what are these sins that you’re showing me? I didn’t do them!” What happened? When that fellow insulted you and you rose above it, your sins were transferred to him and his mitzvos were transferred to you. That’s why you both have activity in your account that you don’t recognize! And that may be the meaning of the Gemara’s statement that upon being called a rasha, “He descends with him into his life.” As a result of that defamatory comment, your lives are both changed forever—literally, for all eternity.
Our sages teach, “Those who are insulted and do not insult back, who hear their shame and do not respond, who act out of love and are joyful in suffering, concerning them, the verse states: ‘And they that love Him are as the sun going forth in its might.’”
May you rejoice in every insult you receive knowing that each makes you shine ever brighter!
Rabbi Dr. Daniel Friedman is the author of The Transformative Daf series, infusing every day with an inspirational Torah message for life! He is the founder of Teaneck’s Center for Torah Values and teaches at Touro University. You can hear him live this Rosh Hashanah at Park East Synagogue.
