Lesson 41

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Lesson #41

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

#1

Speaking about
someone’s physical strength

  1. I have a friend who’s physically weak.  Is there anything
    wrong in me telling this to others?
  1. It depends.  If he’s in a line of work that requires
    physical strength, i.e. a construction worker or a sanitation engineer,
    etc., then you may be harming his livelihood; therefore, it would be
    considered loshon horah.  However, if it won’t cause him harm then you may
    say it.

#2

Speaking about
someone’s financial stability

  1. Is there anything wrong with saying that someone is poor?
  1. Yes.  If word gets around that he’s poor, people will be
    hesitant to lend him money.  This can cause grave damage to his financial
    stability.
  1. In our community there is an individual who people think
    is very wealthy.  I happen to know that his liabilities are almost equal
    to his assets and he is not as wealthy as people think.  May I share this
    information with others?
  1. No you may not since this can harm him financially, as
    mentioned above.

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 are now ready to discuss the last cause,
rationalization.  Can you elaborate on that a bit?

Oded:  Sure!  Often we find ourselves rationalizing
that what we are about to say isn’t really loshon horah or that about such a
person it is permissible to speak and it’s even a mitzvah!

Menaseh:  Would you say that this a common cause?

Oded:  Most people speak loshon horah as a result of
this cause.

Menaseh:  How is one to prevent this from happening?

Oded:  The real underlying cause is simply a lack of
knowledge.  Therefore, the only solution to this problem is to thoroughly learn
the halachos of Shmiras haloshon in all its details and to know until what
extent the prohibition of speaking loshon horah, reaches.

Menaseh:  So a thorough knowledge of the laws
pertaining to loshon horah will prevent us from rationalizing.

Oded:  Correct.  This is in fact a solution that is
more effective than any other.  As a matter of fact, it can work for any sin.

Menaseh:  Can you elaborate on that that?

Oded:  Tomorrow, I will share with you more, regarding
the extent of this solution.

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Sources

Halachah

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

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

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sha’ar Hatevunah Chap. 16

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