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Lesson #33c

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

Speaking loshon
horah about someone who caused you financial harm

#1

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?

1. 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 refrain
   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

1. But what if I think that by going public, he will be
   compelled to return the pilfered funds?

1. 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:  Another great aspect of the mitzvah of chesed
is that it’s a mitzvah that a person will often spend money on.

Menaseh:  Why does that make it greater?

Oded:  The Zohar tells us that a mitzvah which one
has to spend money for, results in greater reward.  Additionally, you can
fulfill this mitzvah while you are busy at work or even sleeping!

Menaseh:  How is that?

Oded:  If you contribute to a gmach that will lend
your money to people in need, your money will be working for you around the
clock.

Menaseh:  It certainly is a tremendous opportunity to
be able to perform the great mitzvah of chesed around the clock!

Oded:  And I’ll tell you something greater; you can
even perform this mitzvah after you’ve passed on!

Menaseh:  Really?

Oded:  Sure!  If you’ve given your money to a gmach,
or set up a fund for a Yeshiva in your lifetime; then even after you’ve passed
on and are basking in Gan Eden you can still amass merits.  The Money that
you’ve designated for chesed or to support Torah works for you even after
you’ve passed on!

Menaseh:  That’s truly amazing!

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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 Section 1 Chasimas HaSefer Chap. 7

Appendix

The 7 Conditions

1.      You either saw it yourself or heard about it and subsequently verified
its veracity.

2.      You must not rush to judgment, but rather weigh carefully whether what
he did is indeed halachicly considered a sin.

3.      Before you go public, you must first attempt to gently rebuke him.

4.      You must be careful not to exaggerate the transgression.

5.      You intentions must be for the right reasons and not out of hatred for
the individual or for personal gain.

6.      If you can bring about the same benefit some other way with out
publicizing this fellow’s transgression, then you may not go public.

7.      Publicizing his transgression mustn’t cause him more damage than would
be due to him in Beis Din.