Lessons

Sponsored l’illuy nishmas

Rachel bas Tammar

Lesson #19b

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

What kind of sins may
you not reveal?

#1

1. In a previous lesson you mentioned that if you see a
   friend who is generally G-d fearing, commit a sin, you may not reveal it
   to anyone.  What kind of sins are you referring to? 

1. All sins; whether severe in nature, like violating Shabbos,
   immoral relations, etc., or rabbinic violations; or even if they are
   merely instructions of the more preferable way to conduct oneself and not
   actual violations.  If you’ve only seen him transgress once and he is
   generally careful in his mitzvah observance, you should approach him
   privately and gently rebuke him for his transgression.  However, you may
   not reveal his transgression to anyone.

#2

1. Would I be permitted to say about a friend that he doesn’t
   learn much Torah?  Unfortunately, in today’s society, this is not so
   uncommon and therefore people might not look down upon him for it.

1. It is forbidden.  Since according to your words he is
   doing something that’s wrong, it is considered loshon horah.

1. How about saying that someone is stingy with his money or
   doesn’t honor the Shabbos properly?  After all, I’m not saying that he’s
   committing a sin, but rather that he’s not performing the mitzvah to its
   fullest.

1. Even though you aren’t accusing him of committing a sin,
   you are speaking derogatorily about him.  It would therefore be considered
   loshon horah.

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:  Have you any more to say on the topic of
anger?

Oded:  One last thing.  Our sages teach us in
Meseches Nedarim that all those who get angry; all forms of Gehinom dominate
them.

Menaseh:  What do you mean by all forms of Gehinom? 
How many forms are there?

Oded:  Many!  In Gehinom there is a unique form of
punishment for every type of sin.

Menaseh:  So why is one who gets angry punished, with
all forms of Gehinom and not just the form of Gehinom for the sin of anger?

Oded:  Because someone who gets angry is liable to
violate almost all forms of sin. Therefore, as a result of his anger, he will
be punished with all forms of Gehinom. 

Menaseh:  So back to our original point.  Someone who
is afflicted with anger, will inevitably speak loshon horah.

Oded:  Correct; and the only way to prevent that from
happening, is by rooting out ones anger.

Menaseh:  This is certainly no easy feet!

Oded:  Agreed; however, from all that we’ve mentioned
over the past few days, I thing you’ll agree that anger is a very destructive and
dangerous trait.

Menaseh:  I agree; and I certainly see the urgency of
removing it from ones heart.

If you have any
questions regarding these lessons, feel free to contact Rabbi Faivel Adelman by
hitting the reply button.

For information
about sponsorship opportunities, send a message to the following email
address:  lessonaday@yahoo.com

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!!

Sources

Halachah

1) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 4 Par.
2

2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 4 Par. 2

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sha’ar Hatevunah Chap. 13