SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON

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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Poor Man’s Treasure
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A very noteworthy concept can be derived from the Talmud’s teaching that the world exists in the merit of the Torah study of children, and that their study is superior to that of the generation’s leading sages. This concept can be better understood with a parable:
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A poor man found a very rare, precious gem, which was commonly found only in the crowns of kings. This was a gem which could be used for a variety of very important purposes, a fact of which the poor man had no notion. The king of that country asked the poor man to give him the gem, and in return, rewarded him with great wealth and a position of prominence. Thus, the poor man received great reward not for what he knew, but for what he possessed.
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Torah study is the rare, precious gem and the young children, who are unaware of the Torah’s awesome sanctity and the depth of its wisdom, are like the poor man who does not perceive the gem’s true worth. Though they lack this understanding, nevertheless, they are personally sanctified and sustain the world through their study. This is because the awesome sanctity of Torah is an unchanging fact and is not dependent on any mental or other preparation on the part of the student. Whenever anyone studies Torah, he is naturally bound up with its sanctity. Thus does the prophet allude to the study of Torah when he says, “... whenever I speak of him I remember him more and more. Therefore, My inner self yearns for him...” (Yirmiyahu 31:19).
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However, when a person defiles his power of speech by speaking that which is forbidden, then the degree of spiritual light which he draws from the study of Torah is diminished.
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We can now better understand the Sages’ discussion cited above. R’ Pappa asked Abaye, “What of our Torah study? Do not the sacred thoughts which are so essential to our study make it superior to that of young children?” Abaye responded, “There is no comparison between breath that is tainted by sin and breath that is free of sin,” meaning that the purity of the children’s study outweighs whatever it lacks.

Keep reading Day 28, the lesson for Shabbos

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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON

Comparisons

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Let us consider the above: The Sages of the Talmud were mighty cedars, whose thoughts were constantly bound up with Hashem. They were forever contemplating His greatness and His commandments, and their speech was exceedingly sacred and pure. If, in the course of speaking, it happened by chance that an improper word escaped their lips, surely they immediately engaged in an appropriate form of repentance. Nevertheless, even this rare improper utterance did damage to the sanctity of their power of speech, so that it was diminished from its previous level.
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What of ourselves, then, whose level of study in no way compares to that of the Sages of the Talmud? If we will defile our mouths with words of loshon hora, mockery, strife and the like — what sort of sanctity will be manifest through our Torah study?
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Let us compare our approaches to spiritual and material pursuits. When, for example, business matters are concerned, one does not cease from pondering ways by which to improve his enterprises and increase his profits. He is careful to remove any possible impediment to success. And no person of sound mind would intentionally do anything that could harm his very source of livelihood.
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Yet with spiritual pursuits the opposite is often the case. We ourselves bring about the ruination of the remnant that still remains with us — the bit of Torah study and prayer that we have. How? Through forbidden speech.

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