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Lesson #18

Please verbalize or
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single and/or Jewish singles throughout the world.

Halachah

Loshon horah about
a flagrant violator of a common knowledge transgression

#1

1. An acquaintance of mine, transgresses a common knowledge
   sin on a regular basis.  Is it proper for me to publicize his
   transgression?

1. If it’s the type of sin that every Jew knows is forbidden
   and he purposefully transgressed it numerous times, he is obviously a
   person who does not fear G-d.  As such, you may publicize his actions
   under the following conditions:
1. You must have first hand knowledge of the information; unless,
   it’s common knowledge in the city that this fellow is a rosha.
2. You mustn’t exaggerate his transgressions, but rather tell
   it exactly as it is.
3. Your intentions should be for the right reasons:

a.      So that people will distance themselves from such behavior when they
hear that people are degrading it.

b.      Perhaps the sinner will change his ways when he hears that people are
disparaging him over his sinful behavior.

c.       You should not speak out of personal hatred or for personal benefit,
but rather for the sake of truth.

4. You must degrade him publicly and not privately (unless
   you are concerned for your safety, or you suspect that doing so publicly,
   might lead to strife).

Note: There are situations
where it would not be appropriate to publicize his actions (i.e. if a person
grew up in a non-religious home, or if change is more likely to be affected, if
it is not publicized).  Therefore, one should consult with a competent halachic
authority before embarking on this course of action.  

A flagrant
violator of a prohibition that is not common knowledge

#2

1. My friend writes with an Etch-a-Sketch on Shabbos.  May I
   publicize his Shabbos desecration?

1. Since the prohibition of writing with an Etch-a-Sketch on
   Shabbos might not be common knowledge, he must first be informed that it’s
   prohibited.  If after being informed he persists in his violation, showing
   blatant disregard for Hashem’s commandments, you may publicize his actions,
   under the conditions mentioned above.  However, the person who informed
   him must be someone of stature and a respected authority on this matter,
   or, it must be shown to him in a sefer.  Otherwise, we must suspect that
   perhaps he didn’t take the one who informed him, seriously.  (The above
   note applies in this case as well.)

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:  We mentioned 7 possible causes that can lead a
person to freely speak loshon horah.  They were:

·       
Anger

·       
Frivolity

·       
Arrogance

·       
Hopelessness

·       
Abandonment

·       
Complaining nature

·       
Rationalization

Menaseh:  The past 2 days, you told me about the
terrible effects of anger.  Have you any more to say on that topic?

Oded:  Sure!  Our sages teach us that someone who
gets angry, even if greatness was decreed upon him; he will be removed from his
position.

Menaseh:  Where do we find that?

Oded:  By Eliav, the older brother of Dovid.

Menaseh:  What happened to him?

Oded:  When Shmuel went to anoint a new king for Klal
Yisroel, he took notice of Eliav.  Hashem told him: “Don’t look at his
appearance or his height for I have despised him”.  That statement seems to
imply that Hashem originally favored him but subsequently despised him.

Menaseh:  But how do you know that he was despised
because of anger?

Oded:  Because that was the only fault of Eliav, mentioned
in Navi.

Menaseh:  Where do we see that he got angry?

Oded:  When Dovid came to the battle front, by request
of his father, to check up on his brothers, Eliav scolded him.

Menaseh:  So you’re saying that Eliav might have been
chosen to be king of Klal Yisroel, if not for his tendency to get angry.

Oded:  Correct.

Menaseh:  That certainly is a tremendous loss; all as
a result of anger.

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Sources

Halachah

1) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 4 Par.
7 Be’er Mayim Chaim 32

2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 4 Par. 7 Be’er
Mayim Chaim 31

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sha’ar Hatevunah Chap. 13