89. R. Joseph D. Soloveitchik, Y’'mei Zikaron(Jerusalem : World Zionist Organization , 1987), pp. 9-11, on the basis of the comment of Ramban to Genesis 1 :26.
90. See the references in R. Barukh Halevy Epstein’s Torah Temimah to the Biblical verses upon which these principles are based.
91. See Sifre to Deuteronomy 20:3(piska 192), where the exemption of the fearful person from military service is explained in part on the basis of k'vod hab'riyot. See Encyclopedia Talmudit, v. 6, col. 477. In the words of Soloveitchik(note 89, above, at p. 9),“The value of k'vod hab'riyot is the theoretical focal point for numerous halakhot: for example, burial, respect for the corpse, ritual defilement of priests, the met mitzvah, Aninut, mourning, the dignity of an elderly person, public humiliation and others. It is even possible that all mitzvoth dealing with interpersonal relationships are based upon this value.”
92. B. Berakhot 19b.
93. B. Berakhot 19b-20a. By contrast, the Talmud Yerushalmi(Y. B'rakhot 3:1 [6b]) takes a somewhat more expansive view of this principle than does the Bavli. See Ya'akov Blidstein,“Gadol k’vod hab’riyot,” Sh'naton hamishpat ha ivri 9-10 (1982-1983), pp. 127-185, and Nahum Rakover , Gadol k'vod hab'riyot(note 85, above), pp. 54-68.
94. One possible answer is that the“negative precept” to which the maxim refers is lo tasur(Deuteronomy 17:11), which the halakhic tradition cites as the basis for Rabbinic legislative authority(B. Shabbat 23a; see Encyclopedia Talmudit, v. 6, col. 477ff). Another answer is that the rule“great is human dignity” can indeed override Toraitic commandments, but only in a passive way(shev v’al ta‘aseh; that is, one may refrain from fulfilling a positive commandment). Finally, the“negative precept” in question has to do with monetary law(dinei mamonot), a sphere of legislation where the rules tend to be less strictly formal than in ritual law. For discussion and references. see the works of Blidstein and Rakover cited in the Preceding note.
95. B. B'rakhot 19b-20a, and Rashi, 20b, s.v. aval m‘tamei hu['met mitzvah; Yad, Kilayim 10:29.
96. B. B'rakhot 20a. The quote is from Rashi ad loc., s.v. aval m’tamei hu I'met mitzvah,
97. B. Shabbat 94b; Yad, Shabbat 15:22.