Q&A: Bullying
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Bullying
Question
Beyond Rabbi Meir’s aggadic story about the bullies, I’m occupied with the question of how Jewish law relates to harassment and bullying behavior in society.
Bullying—that is, behavior that harms society (interpersonal wrongdoing), including intimidating individuals within society and even violent behavior.
Could you point me to basic concepts, and also to major discussions in the literature of the Sages and in the responsa literature?
Answer
This requires some searching, and that’s difficult for me right now. Generally speaking, if you’re focusing on Jewish law, you need to begin by thinking about which halakhic category or clause (Torah-level or rabbinic) could even apply to bullying.