DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 532 KB)
The Disqualification of “Shameless” People From Serving as Witnesses

Among the groups of people whom Halacha disqualifies from serving as witnesses is that of "Bezuyim," meaning, people who act in a self-degrading, shameless manner. Such people are disqualified from serving as witnesses "Mi’de’rabbanan" (by force of Rabbinic enactment).

An example of this kind of character is somebody who regularly eats full meals while walking through the street. Eating meals – such as a sandwich, or pizza – while walking through the street is considered undignified, and reflects a lack of self-respect. Therefore, somebody who conducts himself in this manner on a regular basis may not serve as a witness. This also applies to people who do not wear proper clothing outdoors, while they work or conduct their personal affairs. Such people who show no concern for their personal dignity are looked upon not as people, but as animals. As such, we cannot trust them to speak truthfully in court, and they are therefore disqualified from serving as witnesses.

This reminds us of the importance of selecting as witnesses (such as at weddings and the like) people who maintain high standards of ethical and refined conduct. Even those who do not commit specific Torah violations are unsuitable for this role if they regularly act in an unbecoming and undignified manner.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Sephardic Custom Concerning the "Yihud" of a Bride and Groom
The Wedding Ceremony – The Proper Pronunciation of “Al Yedeh Hupa Be’kiddushin”; the Custom to Break a Glass
Reciting Sheva Berachot After Sundown of the Seventh Day After a Wedding
Reciting Sheba Berachot at a Meal That Was Not Specifically Prepared for the Bride and Groom
May a Person Who Did Not Eat at a Sheba Berachot Celebration Recite One of the Berachot?
Sheba Berachot – If Somebody Did Not Eat Bread at the Meal, Reciting the Berachot Seated
Are the Sheba Berachot Recited if the Bride and Groom Did Not Eat?
Reciting the Sheba Berachot if the Bride and Groom are Not Present
Nidda – Abstaining During “Onat Ha’hodesh” and “Onat Hahaflaga”
The Obligation to Abstain From Relations at the Time When the Wife is Likely to Become a Nidda
The “Tikkun Ha’kelali” – Repairing the Damage Caused by Making Oneself Impure
The Proper Procedure for Sheba Berachot That is Not Held in the Couple’s Home
Making Weddings at Night
Does Dandruff in the Hair Disqualify a Woman’s Immersion in a Mikveh?
Understanding The Beracha of ‘VeTzivanu Al Ha’Arayot’ At The Wedding Ceremony
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found