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Lesson #106

Please verbalize or
have in mind that you are studying this material as a merit for a specific
single and/or Jewish singles throughout the world.

Halachah

Revealing
information that can cause financial harm

#1

1. My friend has a business partner who’s been siphoning off
   funds from the business.  May I tell him about it?

1. It depends.  If your friend will use the information to
   protect himself from further embezzlement, or to research the matter
   further, then you may; providing the 5 previously mentioned conditions are
   met (See appendix below).  However, if based on the information your
   friend will move to dissolve the partnership, then you may not.  Condition
   #5 stipulates that you may not cause him more harm than would be due to
   him in Bais Din.  Since you are only one witness, Bais din would not be
   permitted to take action based on your testimony.  Therefore, if your
   friend will take action, you are causing him more harm to his partner than
   he would have incurred in Bais Din.

#2

1. If I have another witness to this embezzlement of funds,
   may I tell my friend?

1. If there are 2 witnesses then Bais Din may take action
   based on their testimony.  Therefore, it would seem that you should be
   permitted to tell your friend, even if he will take action based on your
   words.  However, there are a few other factors that must be considered. 
   Although you are permitted to tell him, he is not permitted to believe
   you.  Therefore, if he believes you and takes action to dissolve the
   partnership, you are causing him to sin.  Additionally, it is often difficult
   to ascertain what Bais Din will consider a justified reaction to the
   crime.  Your friend might cause him more harm that Bais Din would deem
   appropriate.  In conclusion, if you think your friend will take matters into
   his own hands without a decision from Bais Din, you should not reveal to
   him what you know; even if you have another witness to corroborate your
   claim.

Aggadah

This section is
formatted as a conversation between Oded and Menaseh.   Oded is encouraging his
friend Menaseh to be more careful in guarding his tongue from evil speech.  The
thoughts in this section are primarily based on the sefer, Shmiras Haloshon.

Oded:  There will be a severe judgment against us for
not learning to our fullest potential.

Menaseh:  Are you saying that what I do learn is not
enough?

Oded:  That could very well be.  On the Day of
Judgment Hashem will ask each of us why we didn’t learn more.  If we don’t have
a legitimate justification we will be held accountable for the wasted time. 
This is true not only regarding us but our children as well.

Menaseh:  What do you mean?

Oded:  There are people who feel that they have
fulfilled their obligation as far as education their children in Torah by
sending them to school to get a basic Jewish education.  However, that is not
adequate.

Menaseh:  What is the extent of our obligation
regarding our children?

Oded:  The Shulchan Oruch states that if a father is
able to he has a mitzvah to teach his sons Mishna, Gemora, Halacha and Aggadah;
even if requires hiring someone to teach him.

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Appendix

1. Don’t be hasty in arriving at a decision about the nature
   of the person or situation but rather deliberate carefully.
2. Do not exaggerate the matter.
3. Your intentions should be solely to help the individual
   whom you are advising and not out of hatred for the other party.
4. If you can bring about the benefit some other way,
   without telling rechilus, then it is forbidden to tell the rechilus.
5. Your words may not cause him more harm than is due to him
   in Bais Din.

Sources

Halachah

1) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 2 Chap. 9 Par.
5

2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 2 Chap. 9 Par. 5,6

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sha’ar HaTorah Chap. 7