Verbal Oppression

The Mishnah in Masechet Baba Metzia (58b) teaches, “Just as there is a prohibition to cheat in business, there is likewise a prohibition to verbally hurt someone else, as the verse states (Vayikra 25), ‘And one shall not oppress his fellow and you shall fear your G-d.’” Hurting someone with words is worse than cheating someone in business, for the funds derived from monetary cheating can be returned to their rightful owner while one cannot return the angst one has cause another by verbally hurting him. The Gemara (ibid.) states, “Rav Chasda said: All gates are locked besides for the gates of (verbal) oppression.” This means that when one cries to Hashem as a result of pain caused to him by others, Hashem shall heed the cries of the oppressed.

The Gemara adds that one should be especially careful regarding oppressing a convert and we are warned about…