Hi,

You don’t have to be a Torah scholar to answer this one.

What is the Torah likely to say about cursing someone?

I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the Torah is against it!

But how the Torah says it is very interesting.

“Do not curse a deaf person”.  (Leviticus, 19:14)

If you were a literature teacher marking an essay?

You would circle the word deaf!

What’s it doing there!

Just say “Don’t curse another person”.

Why would the Torah mention a deaf person?

… It’s something the Torah does very often to teach a moral lesson.

It takes an extreme case.  And makes a point.

“Even in this case”.

It’s meant to makes us think.

What is wrong with cursing another person?

Is it because the person will feel bad? Will be offended?

Then what about if the person doesn’t know about it?

Or if the person is deaf.  And won’t hear what you say?

No hurt feelings there!

So what’s so bad?

… And that’s the Torah’s point.

Cursing another person is wrong no matter what.

Why?

Because it’s an affront to their human dignity.

It’s something the Torah taught the world.

And it’s something that we need to remember constantly.

That every human being is created in the Image of G-d.

And must be respected.

All the best,