SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
? Day 118 ¨C Rechilus: A Definition?????????????????
? While the verse ¡°Do not go as a gossipmonger among your people¡± (Vayikra 19:16), prohibits all forms of loshon hora, the term ¡°gossipmonger,¡± refers specifically to rechilus, information that potentially can cause ill will between
Jews. Whereas loshon hora that is derogatory can cause others to lose respect for the subject, rechilus can cause damage to relationships between the subject and his fellow Jews.
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It is forbidden to tell someone that an individual:? did something to harm him; spoke loshon hora against him; doesn¡¯t like him; or doesn¡¯t respect him, since such statements would, in all probability, cause the listener to feel ill will towards that individual.
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? SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Trust in Hashem ?
In developing the quality of shmiras haloshon, one must strive to forever strengthen himself in matters of bitachon, trust in God. Bitachon is a sacred and vital component of Divine service as a whole, and is crucial for proper observance of the laws of Shmiras
haloshon.
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For example, let us suppose that someone does something to slight someone else¡¯s honor or affect his livelihood in some way. The victim¡¯s heart burns with a strong desire to make known the wrong done to him. He finds it difficult to quell this desire. Then,
he begins to reflect upon the Sages¡¯ teaching that no one can affect that which has been Divinely ordained for his fellow, be it a financial gain or mark of honor, even by a hairsbreadth (Yoma 38a). His desire is quelled.
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David said: ¡°Trust in Hashem and do good, that you may dwell in the land and nourish [yourself] with faithfulness¡± (Tehillim 37:3). David first exhorts us to trust in Hashem and only then to do good, for Divine trust is a solid foundation upon which any good
endeavor should be established.
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Keep reading Day 119, the lesson for Shabbos
While we all agree that we need to break the sinas chinam, loshon-hora cycle, many people believe that they can¡¯t succeed for long.?
?The Chofetz Chaim says that¡¯s not so! ?Gossip is a habit, and bad habits can be broken.? Like a smoker, the first step for the loshon-hora speaker is awareness.
He begins listening to the inner voice that says, "Maybe you should leave this unsaid." Every time he holds back, loshon hora loses some of its hold on him.
Good Chodesh
?Start today¡ªgeulah is waiting!
Dedicated l¡¯zecher nishmas Berel ben Hirsh z¡±l, by his children Dr. and Mrs. Reuven Shanik
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
Day 119 ¨C When an Act is justified
Speaking rechilus is prohibited even when it is made clear that the act committed was totally justified. It is therefore forbidden
to tell someone that another person spoke negatively of him for a constructive purpose (l¡¯toeles). Moreover, it is forbidden to tell someone that another person spoke negatively of him upon the advice of a posek (halachic authority). People tend to bear ill
will towards those who speak against them even when it is obvious that the speaker was justified in doing so.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
?The Man of Trust
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Hashem has commanded us to study Torah at every available moment; at the very least, we are to set aside a fixed portion of time
each day for its study. We are also commanded to set aside a portion of our earnings for tzedakah (charity), and fulfill other mitzvos which ostensibly seem to deplete one¡¯s resources or prevent him from adding to his income. The evil inclination incites the
Jew to be lax in his observance of these mitzvos by way of simple arguments: ¡°What will you be left with in the end if you give away so much money which could be used toward lucrative investments?¡¯¡¯ Or, ¡°Now is a most opportune time for a business trip; you
might never have an opportunity like this one! Your studies will have to wait for another time.¡¯¡¯ In this way, one feels compelled to give less charity or to sacrifice his fixed learning session for the sake of the business opportunity which ¡°cannot be missed.¡¯¡¯
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To counter this, David declares: ¡°Trust in Hashem¡± (Tehillim 37:3) ¡ª trust that He will surely grant you whatever has been decreed
for you; ¡°and do good¡± ¡ª through such trust you will find yourself ready to carry out all the good which the Torah seeks of you.
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Talmud Yerushalmi (Sotah 9:13) relates that a businessman was once studying Torah when some customers approached him, demanding that
he show them his merchandise. The man replied: ¡°I will not interrupt my fixed study period. If this profit has been decreed for me, then inevitably it will be mine.¡¯¡¯
