Q&A: A Coronation Ceremony in a Yeshiva High School
A Coronation Ceremony in a Yeshiva High School
Question
I study in 12th grade in a yeshiva high school. The custom in yeshiva high schools, which I’m sure the Rabbi knows, is that the seniors put on a “coronation” ceremony, which is basically a skit based on funny impersonations of the yeshiva staff.
Honestly, I’ve been looking forward to this idea for years, and I’d also like to take part in it, but already last year the issue came up that it really seems like a halakhic prohibition of evil speech, disgracing Torah scholars, and sometimes also public humiliation. (And even though they ask the teachers for permission and the rosh yeshiva goes over the text, in practice every year someone gets offended, even if only a little, and it doesn’t seem to me that there is any permission to speak evil speech about someone even if he agrees.)
Now, if they suggested doing the coronation ceremony on the Sabbath, I’m sure no one would agree to participate in it. So why is this actually different? I know you were once a rebbe in a yeshiva high school, so I’m sure you have an opinion on the subject.
Besides that, could you maybe point me to halakhic sources that discuss this issue? This whole discussion just feels a bit up in the air.
(Sorry the question came out a bit long.)
Answer
I was never a rebbe in a yeshiva high school.
As for your actual question, this is not evil speech but humiliation. It is indeed improper to humiliate people. If you think they will be embarrassed and that their consent was only given out of discomfort, then it really is forbidden to do it. But if the rosh yeshiva approves it, then presumably in his view there is no humiliation here. So maybe it would be כדאי to ask him. I don’t see what sources are needed for this. It is forbidden to humiliate people.
Discussion on Answer
Why would it be evil speech?
If, for example, they act out a teacher who speaks strangely or who doesn’t know how to control his students, then on its face I don’t see any difference between that and saying about them that they speak strangely, etc.
It’s simply evil speech by hint. And the fact that they agree to let people say it about them doesn’t help with evil speech, from what I know.
In addition to the prohibition of evil speech and humiliation, seemingly there is also the issue of disgracing Torah scholars (and I don’t know whether that is permitted if the scholar gives permission for it).
Is imitating people in a funny way not considered evil speech?