Giving bad advice

Hi,

"If someone asks you for advice, do not advise him inappropriately. Do not tell him, "Depart in the early morning," such that thieves will attack him, or "Depart at noon," so that he will be overcome by heat."

היה נוטל ממך עצה, אל תתן לו עצה שאינה הוגנת לו, אל תאמר לו צא בהשכמה שיקפחוהו ליסטים, צא בצהרים בשביל שישתרב 

(Midrash, Sifra Kedoshim 2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The consequences of inappropriate disciplinary methods

Hi,

"Rebbe's maid saw a man striking his mature son. She said, 'Let him be banned, for violating 'Do not put a stumbling block before the blind.''"

(Talmud, Moed Katan 17a)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair did not want to eat out - Part II

Hi,

"When Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair came to Rebbe's home, he sought to enter through a passage where [he found that] a white mule stood. He exclaimed, 'The angel of death [for white mules were particularly vicious] is in this house; how could I eat with him?'

"Rebbe heard this and exited to greet him. He said, 'Should I sell it?!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'You shall not put a stumbling block before the blind!'

"He said, 'I will abandon it!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'You will increase the harm! '

"He said, 'I will remove its hooves!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'This will pain a living creature!'

" He said, 'I will kill it!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'That would violate the prohibition against waste!'

(Talmud, Chullin 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Giving good advice

Hi,

"Prohibition #299 instructs that none of us should cause others to stumble.

"This means that if someone asks you for advice in a matter in which he might err, we are warned not to trick him or to cause him to stumble, but to straighten his path toward that which one believes to be good and just for him."

(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot, Prohibition #299)

Have a great day,
Mordechai