Bava Kama 90 – The Indignity of a Slap

Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 90 discusses the penalties that one must pay to another if they slap them. There are different levels of penalty that must be paid depending on the type of slap, and the location on the body that is slapped. Tablet’s Courtney Hazlett returns to explore the story of the slap heard around the world, that being the slap by Will Smith of comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. We discuss the ways that a slap is far more complicated than other forms of physical aggression, as it was an attempt to degrade far more than to cause physical injury. How do the Rabbis see the act of humiliation in comparison to other forms of assault? Listen and find out.

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We think that you may also enjoy Liel's new book How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

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