Lessons

To sponsor a lesson Click
here

Lesson #12c

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

Deceptive Loshon
Horah

#1

1. If someone speaks loshon horah casually, as if he doesn’t
   know that what he’s saying is loshon horah, is that considered loshon
   horah?

1. It most certainly is.  This form of loshon horah is dubbed
   by our sages as “deceptive loshon horah”.  An example of this would be the
   Gemora Yerushalmi that we mentioned in yesterday’s lesson (see appendix
   below).

Loshon Horah
that’s derogatory but causes no harm

#2

1. My brother related to me some negative information about a
   sibling; but, I didn’t believe him.  I’m wondering if that would be
   considered a violation of loshon horah on his part, since his words ended
   up causing no harm.

1. It would still be considered loshon horah.  As mentioned
   previously, loshon horah is defined as any form of communication that
   causes harm, even if it’s not derogatory; or, any form of communication
   that is derogatory, even if it causes no harm.  As a matter of fact,
   even if your brother knew from the outset that you would not believe him,
   he would still be in violation of loshon horah, since he spoke derogatory
   words about a fellow Jew.

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:  Here is some great advice to help guard his
tongue from evil speech.  Accustom yourself not to talk in Shul or the Beis
Medrash.

Menaseh:  What is the great benefit in that?

Oded:  A few things.

• It is a big mitzvah to not desecrate the holiness of these
  places with mundane or forbidden speech.
• The Torah that you learn and the tefilos that you daven
  will remain complete.  You won’t miss any amens, yehai shemai rabbas,
  kedushah or borechu.
• You can have 10 years of your life free and clear of any
  forbidden speech.
• It will be easier for you to guard your tongue the rest of
  your day since you’ve accustomed yourself to guard your tongue for at
  least a few hours every day.

Menaseh:  How do you figure that I can have 10 years
free of forbidden speech?

Oded:  Let’s run a simple calculation.  The average
Jewish male will be in a Shul or a Beis Medrash for approximately 2-3 hours a
day between all the tefilos and a little time after.  If he has a set time for
Torah study we can add say another 2 hours.  That’s approximately 4-5 hours a
day, free of forbidden speech.  That amounts to between a fifth or sixth of
your 24 hour day free and clear of loshon horah.  Depending on your current age
and how long you’ll live that can add up to about 10 years.

If you have any
questions regarding these lessons, feel free to contact Rabbi Faivel Adelman clicking here.

If you know others
who would appreciate this program, please encourage them to join.  The more
people participating, the greater the zechus!  In addition, you will have a
share in the merit of anyone who improves their speech as a result of you
signing them onto this program!!

Click here to join                    Click here to invite a friend

Sources

Halachah

1) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 3 Par.
5

2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 3 Par. 6

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sec. 1 Chasimas HaSefer Chap. 2

Appendix

The Gemora Yerushalmi (Meseches Peah Chap. 1 Hal.1) relates
the following:  There was once a workforce setting out to work.  One of the
workers, a fellow named Bar Chovetz, didn’t show up that day.  His coworkers,
in an attempt to surreptitiously bring this to the attention of the taskmaster,
began asking each other: “what shall we eat today?”  One of them responded:
“let’s eat chuvtzah”, a type of legume.  When the taskmaster heard this he
exclaimed: “hey, that reminds me, where is Bar Chovetz”.  This, said Rebbi
Yochanan, is considered underhanded loshon horah.