Stumbling blocks

#728: Laws of Lifnei Iver: Assisting Another in Aveiros

The lav (Torah prohibition) of lifnei iver lo siten michshol (do not place a stumbling block before the blind) is interpreted as a warning against causing another to violate an issur (halachic prohibition). This lav is transgressed when facilitating an aveirah (transgression) that is trei ivrei d’nahara (two sides of the river, i.e. impassible without intervention)—when one enables another to transgress by offering support. If the transgressor can do the aveirah on their own, the abettor is not violating a lav, but is termed mesaye’a (helper), a position that is assur mid’Rabbanan (prohibited by Rabbinic law), according to many Rishonim (early halachic authorities).

What about being mesaye’a a person who is a mumar (a repeat transgressor)? Is assisting them to violate Torah restricted to the same degree as assisting an observant Jew? According to the Shulchan Aruch Harav and other notable poskim, all Jews are equal when it comes to enabling aveirah (sin), a mumar included.

This can create sticky situations for the observant individual when interacting socially or professionally with their non-observant brethren. However, there are klalim (principles) for how mesaye’a applies, and on account of its status as a d’Rabbanan, there are many heterim (leniencies).* (The mesaye’a, who enables a person to transgress a particular issu­r should not to be confused with the meisis—tempter—who entices others to sin, which is forbidden across the board.)

These are some circumstances where exceptions to the issur of mesaye’a may apply:

Delayed Action: Poskim make a distinction between assisting a transgressor at the time they are sinning, versus taking action that will enable them to transgress at a later time.

Personal Provision: There is a difference between providing an object from one’s own possessions to enable an aveirah, or from another’s (or from public property).

Defensive Offence: There is a discussion among poskim whether it may be permitted to assist another to transgress in a way that will likely prevent them from transgressing more aveiros in the future (such as offering a meal with the purpose of bringing others closer to Yiddishkeit without being certain they will stay for birchas hamazon—the blessings after the meal).

*The regulations of mesaye’a are much more complex than the few rules provided here; therefore a rav should be consulted for dilemmas of this nature.

https://halacha2go.com?number=728

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.