Lessons

To sponsor a lesson Click
here

Lesson #3b

Please verbalize or
have in mind that you are studying this material as a merit for Jewish singles
throughout the world.

Halachah

#1

When refraining
from loshon horah can lead to financial lose

1. At work, the course of conversation often leads to loshon
   horah.  Here’s my dilemma.  If I participate, I’ll be transgressing the prohibition
   of loshon horah.  On the other hand, if I don’t participate, I’ll be
   considered odd and my boss is likely to fire me.  If I lose my job I have
   no source of income.  Must I remain silent and risk losing my job?

1. One is obligated to give up everything he owns and not
   violate a prohibition of Hashem.  This is true even regarding a rabbinic
   prohibition.  The mitzvos of Hashem are more important than all the material
   possessions in the world. One who makes such a sacrifice for the sake of
   Hashem’s mitzvos can be rest assured that he/she will reap tremendous
   reward for their sacrifice.

#2

When refraining
from loshon horah can lead to embarrassment

1. Often, while sitting with friends, the conversation leads
   to loshon horah.  If I remain silent, they’ll think that I’m mentally
   challenged.  Must I remain silent and suffer this humiliation?

1. Yes.  It is better to be called a Shoteh (mentally
   handicapped) your entire life and not be considered a sinner, even for one
   moment, before Hashem.  Bear in mind that the reward for a mitzvah
   preformed with pain and hardship is one hundred times greater than one
   without.

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.

Menaseh:  You mentioned yesterday that if a son is goes
on the wrong path it will be a great source of embarrassment for the father in
the world to come.  Can you elaborate on that?

Oded:  Sure!  It’s actually from the Zohar.  The
Zohar writes that if a son goes on the wrong path he will certainly be
disgracing his father.  But if he goes on the right path it will be an honor
for his father both in this world in the eyes of people and in the world to
come before Hashem.

Menaseh:  How will he be honored before Hashem?

Oded:  The Zohar states that Hashem will have mercy
on the father as a result of his son and place on a throne of honor.

Menaseh:  Can you describe the embarrassment a father
suffers if his son goes on the wrong path?

Oded:  I will quote to you from the Vilna Gaon’s
famous letter, Alim L’trufah.  The Vilna Gaon writes that even if one
guides his son to the proper path but the son does not accept his guidance, woe
is to the embarrassment, anguish and shame in the world to come.  How much more
so if the father causes his sons to turn from the proper path as a result of
his approach, how much punishment, embarrassment and shame will come upon him. 
Each and every sin that his son commits will be a remembrance of sin for the
father.  Even when this son dies and the father is already sitting in Gan Eden
he will still suffer.  They will take him from his place in Gan Eden and bring
him to Gehinom to witness the suffering of his son.  That is a loose quote of
the Vilna Gaon’s letter.

Menaseh:  That is very scary.

Oded:  It certainly is.  This should serve as a
strong motivation for us to do every thing in our power to assure that our
children are getting a proper Torah education, one that will stay with them for
the rest of their lives.

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. 1 Par.
6

2) Sefer Chofetz Chaim Sec. 1 Chap. 1 Par. 7

Agaddah

Sefer Shmiras Haloshon Sha’ar HaTorah Chap. 9