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Lesson #47

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 for a purpose

#1

1. The other day I overheard 2 people speaking loshon horah
   about my friend.  I’m wondering if it would be okay for me to listen in so
   that I may subsequently rebuke my friend and steer him in the right
   direction.

1. Yes you may.  Since your intention is to help your friend
   and not to hear negative information about him, you would not be violating
   the prohibition of listening to loshon horah.

#2

1. If I overhear people talking loshon horah about someone
   and I feel that I can prove to the listeners that what’s being said is
   inaccurate, may I listen in?

1. In such a situation it is a mitzvah for you to listen in,
   since you can minimize the damage that might result from that 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:  It’s important to keep in mind that when you
speak loshon horah about a friend, the angels above will mention your sins.

Menaseh:  What about a situation in which it was
permissible for me to speak loshon horah about a sin that someone committed?

Oded:  If you are clean from that sin which you spoke
about, then you will not be held accountable.  However, if you are guilty of
that sin, then saying that your friend committed it is considered loshon horah
and you will be held accountable for it.

Menaseh:  That means that if I ever speak about a sin
that someone committed, I must make sure that I will never commit that same
sin?

Oded:  Correct.  If you do, then what you’ve said
about the other person will retroactively be considered loshon horah.

Menaseh:  It also means that I must think very hard
before speaking about someone else to make sure that I am not guilty of that
same sin in any way.

Oded:  Correct.

Menaseh:  From where do you know this?

Oded:  Tomorrow we will discuss the source.

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Sources

Halachah

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

2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 6 Par. 4

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sha’ar Hatevunah Chap. 17