In honor of World Blindness Awareness Month, Jewish Treats explores the Torah admonition and prohibition, “Do not put a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14). On the surface, it seems like an odd commandment. After all, who but a truly mischievous, mean-spirited prankster would put something in the way of the blind to cause them to trip and fall? Surely, common human decency would assume that no one do this.

Since the Torah does not waste words on the obvious, what could possibly be the purpose of this prohibition? Metaphorically, blindness refers to someone lacking knowledge, whether general information or a specific fact. Do not put a stumbling block before the blind is also understood to be a prohibition against deliberately giving bad advice – like telling someone to invest in a business that you know, through personal knowledge, is likely to fail.

The sages took this commandment one step further, maintaining that this biblical statement required people to go out of their way to help others not violate the Torah. For instance, tempting a Jew who you know keeps kosher with non-kosher food would be considered a stumbling block.

Through this prohibition against misleading others, the sages emphasize the importance of carefully considering each of our actions. Where we put things (like allowing a trash can to roll into the street), how we say things (that might be misconstrued as advice) and the impression that our actions make on others (leading them to do things improperly), should always be at the forefront of our thoughts.

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