Supplied by Yitz Grossman.
“You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.”l We can learn from this verse that there is a prohibition against afflicting only a widow or an orphan, but from where can we learn that the prohibition applies to every person?
“Since it is written, ‘you shall not afflict’ at the end of the verse, this alludes to the fact that everyone is included,” says Rabbi Yishmael. [As the Zayis Raanan explains, the idea is that in Hebrew the verse reads "Any widow or orphan you shall not afflict" and since the words "you shall not afflict" are written at the end of the verse, it implies that you shall not afflict anyone.]
Rabbi Akiva says, “Every widow or orphan who is in danger of being afflicted Is referred to in the verse, ‘If you shall afflict him.’” This applies whether it is much torment or only a little. Another explanation is that an offender is not implicated until he afflicts once and then repeats the affliction.
Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel and Rabbi Yishmael were taken to be executed. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Ylshmael, “Why am I am being killed? I do not understand for what sin G-d is causing me to be executed.”
Rabbi Yishmael said to him, ‘Did it ever happen in your life that a person came to ask a halachic question or to be judged concerning a monetary matter, and you made him wait until you finished drinking the cup you had started, or until you put on your shoes or your jacket? If so, you were transgressing what the Torah says: ‘If you shall afflict,’ as this law applies whether it is much affliction or little.”
When Rabbi Shimon heard this he said to Rabbi Yishmael, “You have comforted me in my anguish since I now understand the reason why I am being punished by G-d.”
“Since it is written, ‘you shall not afflict’ at the end of the verse, this alludes to the fact that everyone is included,” says Rabbi Yishmael. [As the Zayis Raanan explains, the idea is that in Hebrew the verse reads "Any widow or orphan you shall not afflict" and since the words "you shall not afflict" are written at the end of the verse, it implies that you shall not afflict anyone.]
Rabbi Akiva says, “Every widow or orphan who is in danger of being afflicted Is referred to in the verse, ‘If you shall afflict him.’” This applies whether it is much torment or only a little. Another explanation is that an offender is not implicated until he afflicts once and then repeats the affliction.
Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel and Rabbi Yishmael were taken to be executed. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Ylshmael, “Why am I am being killed? I do not understand for what sin G-d is causing me to be executed.”
Rabbi Yishmael said to him, ‘Did it ever happen in your life that a person came to ask a halachic question or to be judged concerning a monetary matter, and you made him wait until you finished drinking the cup you had started, or until you put on your shoes or your jacket? If so, you were transgressing what the Torah says: ‘If you shall afflict,’ as this law applies whether it is much affliction or little.”
When Rabbi Shimon heard this he said to Rabbi Yishmael, “You have comforted me in my anguish since I now understand the reason why I am being punished by G-d.”
