Lessons

Sponsored as a zechus for

Binyomin Daniel ben Miriam

May he speedily find his zivug

To sponsor a lesson Click
here

Lesson #46c

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

Listening to
loshon horah

#1

1. Yesterday, we learned that one may not believe loshon
   horah.  Is it permissible to listen to loshon horah without believing it?

1. Listening to loshon horah is biblically prohibited as
   well.  However, it is different than the prohibition of not believing
   loshon horah (which is almost always prohibited) in that there are
   circumstances where it’s permissible to listen to loshon horah without
   believing it.

#2

1. I am considering taking on a partner.  The other day I
   overheard someone speaking about him.  Would I have been allowed to listen
   in?

1. It would be permissible for you to listen but not to
   believe.  You may, however, suspect that what you’ve heard might be true
   and based on that proceed with caution.

1. By listening to the loshon horah aren’t I causing the
   teller to sin?

1. You’re raising a valid point.  In your situation, since
   the teller was already engaged in telling loshon horah to the other
   listeners and you only wanted to listen in, you would not be causing him
   to sin, since he already was.  However, if you are the one initiating the
   conversation, you must first ascertain that he will not speak out of
   hatred but rather for the purpose of guiding you to make the right
   decision.

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:  Yesterday, we mentioned that the mitzvos of
Hashem can only infuse us with holiness after we have taken care not to stray
after our heart and eyes.

Menaseh:  You were going to relate a parable to
better illustrate that point.

Oded:  Here is the parable.  Imagine, a person has a
house filled with dirt and filth.  He decides that in order to beautify his
house he will bring in the finest gold and silver ornaments.  Do you think that
such a course of action would have the desired effect?

Menaseh:  Absolutely not!  He must first clean his
home from the filth and squalor and only then can fine ornaments beautify his
home.

Oded:  Well, the same is true regarding the Jewish
soul.  Through performing the mitzvos we are able implant the holiness of
Hashem in our soul.  As the posuk states: “I am Hashem who dwells in the midst
of Bnei Yisroel”.  However, we can only accomplish this if we do not allow
false beliefs and impure thoughts to inhabit our soul.

If you have any
questions regarding these lessons, feel free to contact Rabbi Faivel Adelman clicking here.

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!!

Click here to join                    Click here to invite a friend

Sources

Halachah

1) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 6 Par.
2

2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 6 Be’er Mayim
Chaim 3

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Section 2 Chap. 2