Kavod HaBriyos

What is Kavod HaBriyos?

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The term “Kavod Habriot” essentially translates as “human dignity” and is a major consideration in halachic decisions. For example, although a Kohen is forbidden to be in te presence of the dead, he is permitted (required!) to bury a dead body that is found abandoned, due to Kavod Habriot. In fact, even a Kohen Gadol is permitted to bury an abandoned dead body. A Kohen is also permitted in some cases to defile himself in order to greet a king, again, due to Kavod Habriot.

There are other examples in modern halacha where Kavod Habriot is considered. One who is hard of hearing is permitted to wear a hearing aid on Shabbat due in part to Kavod Habriot considerations. Furthermore, although it is forbidden to scrape mud off of one’s shoes or clothes on Shabbat, a Gentile may be asked to do so ifKavod Habriot is at stake. Indeed, Kavod Habriot is often invoked in matters of personal hygiene on both Shabbat and weekdays.

In many situations, the Torah reader should not be corrected if he makes a minor mistake in the Torah reading, as doing so might embarrass him. Similarly, although one is generally not permitted to recite any prayers when one needs a toilet, if a Torah reader or chazzan develops the urge to relieve himself, he is permitted to carry on with the service. This is because it would be embarrassing for him to force the congregation to wait for him while he relieves himself.

Moshe Rabbeinu was very careful to preserve the Kavod Habriot of the Jewish people when he rebuked them before his death doing so in a very gentle manner. So too, God killed Bilaam’s donkey after it criticized Bilaam, so that people would not taunt him by saying that even an animal was superior to him. Indeed, it is taught that the reason animals can’t speak is so they not be able to rebuke humans and thereby embarrass us.

Even a thief is entitled to the benefits of Kavod Habriot. For example, a thief who was caught stealing while in an embarrassing or compromising position may be eligible to receive a lighter sentence in consideration of the embarrassment he suffered while transgressing. One must make heroic efforts in order to distance oneself from possibly embarrassing the poor.

Our sages teach us that Kavod Habriot is one of the greatest attributes that a person can have.

Berachot 19b; Shabbat 81b, 94b; Eruvin 41b; Megilla 3b; Menachot 37b; Rambam, Hilchot Sanhedrin 24:10, Hilchot Matnat Aniyim 10:7–14.; Teshuvot Harashba 5:238;  Mishna Berura  92:7, 302:36; Sha’ar Hatziun 302:44, YD 390