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...
Construction in One’s Home on Tisha B’Ab and Doing Laundry and Wearing Freshly-Laundered Clothing During the Week of Tisha B’Ab
Tisha B’Ab – Is Kaddish Recited Before the Haftarah?
Tisha B’Ab – The Status of Tea and Coffee vis-ŕ-vis the Se’uda Mafseket
Moving Into a New Residence and Buying or Leasing a Car During the Nine Days
The Se’uda Mafseket Before Tisha B’Ab
Tisha BeAv- Do We Wear Tefillin On Tisha BeAv
May the Mohel, Sandak and Father Eat on Tisha B’Ab Which is Delayed Until Sunday?
Listening to Music and Haircutting on Fast Days
May an Ashkenazi Have a Sepharadi Wash His Clothes During the Nine Days?
Tisha B’Ab – If Someone Flies to a Different Time Zone During the Fast
Tisha B’Ab – The Custom to Dim the Lights and Announce the Number of Years Since the Hurban
Tisha B’Ab on Mosa’eh Shabbat – Reciting Habdala if One is Exempt From Fasting
May Women and Children Take Haircuts During the Week of Tisha B’Ab?
If a Person Travels Into a Different Time Zone on Tisha B’Ab
Meat, Milk, Wine, and Chicken Stock During the Nine Days
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found