- Q. When a man is talking to a woman, is it better to be brief as our sages advise, even if that may seem insulting to the woman involved, as she notices the longer dialog to the other men, or should the principle of “Kavod Habriot” (Honoring people) take priority?
A. Ben Ish Chai teaches regarding the Talmud (Eirubin 53b) that mentions that the important Beruriah complained against Rav Yosi Haglili when he added a just a word to his question regarding which way to follow. Yet he mentions that avoiding insult takes precedence.
Chasam Soffer (on Haftara of Nasso) similarly mentions that even using a longer word should be avoided, as in the angel addressing the wife of Manoach.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a
Important Numbers
