SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Forfeiting the Greatest of Treasures ?
Speaking loshon hora can cause the inestimable merit of one’s Torah study to be forfeited. In the words of Midrash Shochar Tov (Tehillim ch. 52):
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Let not your mouth bring guilt on your flesh, and do not tell the emissary that it was an error. Why should God be angered by your speech and destroy the work of your hands? (Koheles 5:5).
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?Let not your mouth bring guilt on your flesh —by speaking loshon hora.
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Why should God be angered by your speech and destroy the work of your hands? — for you will lose the little Torah which you have to your credit.
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The intent of this Midrash is that, as already discussed,1 speaking loshon hora causes the speaker’s merits to be transferred to the Heavenly account of the person against whom he spoke.
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When a Jew studies Torah, he perfects his entire being, for he draws upon himself a spirit of sanctity, which gives vitality to his body in this world and to his soul in the next world. Thus do the Sages teach (Eruvin 54a): “One who feels pain in his head should
study Torah... One who feels pain in his throat should study Torah... One who feels pain in his entire body should study Torah, as it is written (Mishlei?4:22),
‘And a cure for his entire flesh.’ ”
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And all this can be lost through speaking loshon hora.
