Hi Rabbi Abadi,
I wanted to better understand two general halachic principles and how far they extend in everyday life.
1. Lifnei Iver: When does helping, enabling, or benefiting from someone else’s actions become a prohibition? For example, if someone would perform an aveirah regardless of my involvement, am I still responsible for participating or benefiting? Where is the line between actually causing someone to sin and simply being involved?
2. Marit Ayin: How far does this prohibition extend? If an action is technically permitted but others might mistakenly think it’s forbidden, does that make it prohibited? Does there need to be an explicit decree from Chazal, or can marit ayin apply to new situations today?
More generally, how do we distinguish actual halachic prohibitions from concerns based on how an action might appear to others?
Thank you!
1. Lifnei Iver: Please see the Gemara in Avodah Zarah 6b, particularly the concept of תרי עברי דנהרא. See also Mishnah Berurah, Orach Chaim 347:7, and Igrot Moshe, Yoreh De’ah, Vol. 1, Siman 72. These sources discuss the distinction between actually enabling someone to commit an aveirah and merely assisting someone who could commit it regardless.
2. Marit Ayin: We’ve discussed this subject extensively on Kashrut.org. Please search the website for “Marit Ayin” and read the various discussions, including:
– [Maarit Ayin](https://kashrut.org/maarit-ayin/)
– [Sushi / Marit Ayin](https://kashrut.org/sushi-marit-ayin/)
These explain my approach to the limitations of Marit Ayin and why we cannot simply create new prohibitions based on what someone might think.
Once you’ve gone through these sources and discussions, feel free to come back with any specific questions that remain.
If I invite a Jewish friend for Shabbat dinner, knowing with certainty that he will drive, but he already drives every Shabbat regardless of my invitation, is this biblical Lifnei Iverr? Does it matter if the purpose is bringing him closer to Shabbat?
Thank you