Responsa על חגיגה 44:10
Teshuvot Maharam
Q. A rich man called the son of a worthy and scholarly family "bastard, son of bastards". What should be his punishment?
A. The Talmud prescribes thirty-nine lashes, and the judges may punish him more severely, if he makes a practice of offending people. The punishment should also depend on the high qualifications of the man and the family insulted. But for his own salvation, he should fast, chastise himself, give charity to the poor, and ask the Lord for mercy and forgiveness; for he has offended scholars in their graves which is, indeed, a serious sin.
SOURCES: Cr. 285; Pr. 132; Rashba I, 855; Mord. B.K. 105. Cf. Weil, Responsa 28.
A. The Talmud prescribes thirty-nine lashes, and the judges may punish him more severely, if he makes a practice of offending people. The punishment should also depend on the high qualifications of the man and the family insulted. But for his own salvation, he should fast, chastise himself, give charity to the poor, and ask the Lord for mercy and forgiveness; for he has offended scholars in their graves which is, indeed, a serious sin.
SOURCES: Cr. 285; Pr. 132; Rashba I, 855; Mord. B.K. 105. Cf. Weil, Responsa 28.
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