SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Peddler’s Potion
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It happened that a certain peddler was making his way through the towns near the city of Tzippori, calling out as he went, “Who wishes to purchase a life-giving potion?’’ People crowded around him [to obtain what he was offering].
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R’ Yannai was sitting on his balcony studying Torah. Upon hearing the peddler’s announcement, R’ Yannai called down, “Come up here and sell me your potion.’’ The peddler replied, “Neither you nor those like you need it.’’ However, R’ Yannai persisted until
the peddler agreed to come up. The peddler opened the Book of Tehillim (Psalms) and read, “Which man desires life?... Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn from evil and do good...’’ (Tehillim 34:13- 14). R’ Yannai said, “Shlomo
too declared, ‘One who guards his mouth and tongue, guards his soul from tribulations‘ (Mishlei?21:23).
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R’ Yannai reflected, “All my life I read this verse, but never perceived its full meaning until this peddler came along”1(Vayikra Rabbah 16:2).
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While on a visit to Eretz Yisrael in 1936, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter, the Rebbe of Ger (and author of Imrei Emes), wrote the following in a letter to his followers in Poland:
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I also seek the following from you: As the tribulations befalling our nation have multiplied both within and without, and our Sages, with their trustworthy insight, have taught that the causes of this exile are loshon hora and sinas chinam (baseless hatred),
I suggest that all of you study Sefer Chofetz Chaim and Sefer Shmiras HaLoshon ...Heaven and earth bear witness that upon completing the above-mentioned works I felt within myself a positive effect. Even those who are of wholesome character will feel a positive
effect from studying these works.
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Though the peddler told R’ Yannai that “Neither you, nor those like you, are in need of this potion,’’ R’ Yannai troubled the man to come up to him, to demonstrate that everyone is in need of it.
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R’ Yannai had never understood why David taught this lesson in the form of a question and answer. After meeting the peddler, R’ Yannai understood that because people so easily transgress
the laws of proper speech, it is therefore necessary to draw their attention to this matter by making a public announcement such as the peddler did (Maharzu).
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Congratulations and Mazel Tov on finishing the entire cycle of A Lesson A Day.
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