开云体育SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON? Torah Study vs. Loshon Hora ? The Talmud states (Arachin 15b): “R’ Chama bar Chanina said: If one has spoken loshon hora, how can he rectify his sin? If he is a Torah scholar, he should toil in Torah study, as it is written, ‘A healing for the tongue is a tree of life’ (Mishlei 15:4). Torah is the ‘tree of life,’ as it is written (ibid.?3:18), ‘It is a tree of life to all who grasp it.’ ” ? “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (ibid.?18:21). Evil speech can deny one the eternal bliss of the Next World. One who seeks to heal his tongue of this terrible malady should partake of the tree of life that is Torah. At the same time, he must be on guard to avoid repeating past sins. ? This can be likened to a person who is being treated for food poisoning. It is not enough to take the necessary medicines; one must also be careful to avoid eating more contaminated food. ? The Talmud further states that immersion in Torah study is itself a preventive measure against speaking loshon hora. As Scripture states, “For man was born to toil” (Iyov 5:7). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 99b) understands “toil” as a reference to speech, specifically the speech of Torah study. The Talmud is teaching us that man’s tongue differs from his other limbs in a very important way. Use of man’s other limbs requires energy. If man is lazy, his limbs will not be put to maximum use. Such is not the case with the tongue. Man need not overcome any innate laziness to engage in conversation. To the contrary, he is naturally bent toward speech and it is to refrain from speech which requires effort. Thus do the Sages state that “man was born to toil” refers to the toil of speech. ? It is for the toil of Torah study that man was born. However, man has free choice to decide what the nature of his speech will be. If he will not use his natural inclination toward speech for the study of Torah, then inevitably he will speak other matters and will transgress the laws of forbidden speech. ? |
