Now Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, he says there (ibid. 59a) another reason – actually it’s the first one on the list – and it’s something that should cause us to shudder. How do we know that vexing someone with words is worse than vexing him with money?
Because by this one, by ona’as devarim, it says “And you should fear Hashem”, and by vexing with money it doesn’t say anything about being afraid of Hashem.
Of course we know that we have to be afraid of Hashem about anything we do against the Torah but when it comes to hurting our fellow Jews with words, the Torah goes out of its way to add the words, “You should be afraid of Hashem.” Which means, be especially afraid! A ganav also has to be afraid, but if you hurt feelings, the Torah says: “Start worrying! Beware of the repercussions! Hakadosh Baruch Hu takes action if you hurt people’s feelings.”
