Lesson 33
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Lesson #33
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Halachah
Speaking loshon
horah about someone who caused you financial harm
#1
- A business partnership that I had with someone, went sour
after I noticed that he was siphoning off large sums of cash from our
business, for personal use. May I go public with this?
- No. Even if you are able to fulfill most of the
conditions listed below (see Appendix), condition #5 will be most
elusive. Since you are the one that was harmed, your intentions will
certainly not be for the sake of truth, i.e. so that others should
distance themselves from such behavior. It is inevitable that your
primary intention will be, to degrade and shame your former partner for
pilfering money from the business.
#2
- But what if I think that by going public, he will be
compelled to return the pilfered funds?
- Now that’s a different story! If you feel that you can
recoup your losses and that is your sole intention for going public, then
you may; providing that you are careful to adhere to the other 6
conditions mentioned in the appendix below.
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: We began discussing cause #4,
hopelessness. I remember learning a Gemora which stated that everyone speaks
loshon horah. If so, it seems that it’s impossible to not speak loshon horah.
Oded: If what your saying is true, it would be very
difficult to understand how Hashem can command us not to speak loshon horah.
Menaseh: Why?
Oded: It would be unjust.
Menaseh: Why would it be unjust?
Oded: Hashem gives reward or punishment for all of our
deeds. It would be unjust to punish someone for a committing a sin that he had
no choice but to commit.
Menaseh: So then how do we understand the Gemora which
states that everyone speaks loshon horah?
Oded: I will explain that Gemora to you, but first
lets establish as fact that if Hashem commands us to do something, or refrain
from doing something, it must be that we have the ability to fulfill that
commandment.
Menaseh: I understand that point.
Oded: Tomorrow, I will further address your question
regarding the Gemora which you quoted.
If you have any
questions regarding these lessons, feel free to contact Rabbi Faivel Adelman by
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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. 10
Par. 11
2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 10 Par. 13
Agaddah
Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sha’ar Hatevunah Chap. 15
Appendix
The 7 Conditions
- You either saw it yourself or heard about it and
subsequently verified its veracity. - You must not rush to judgment, but rather weigh carefully
whether what he did is indeed halachicly considered a sin. - Before you go public, you must first attempt to gently
rebuke him. - You must be careful not to exaggerate the transgression.
- You intentions must be for the right reasons and not out
of hatred for the individual or for personal gain. - If you can bring about the same benefit some other way
with out publicizing this fellow’s transgression, then you may not go
public. - Publicizing his transgression mustn’t cause him more
damage than would be due to him in Beis Din.
