SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON-Day 155
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Blessing and the Curse
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The serpent was cursed, “... upon your belly you shall go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life” (Bereishis?3:14).
Similarly, the gossipmonger is punished with poverty, as stated in Sefer HaKaneh.
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I am truly amazed by the fact that people who regularly speak evil of others nevertheless do not hesitate to request blessings and segulos (auspicious omens) from tzaddikim for success in earning a livelihood. Do they expect a blessing to outweigh the strength
of their sinful ways? The Torah states, “Accursed is one who strikes his fellow stealthily” (Devarim 27:24), which the Sages interpret as a curse upon one who speaks loshon hora. This curse was uttered in the presence of the entire Jewish people, who collectively
answered “Amen” to its pronouncement. Can the blessing of even a tzaddik outweigh the power of this curse?
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Would such a person seek my advice for material blessing, I would tell him to be exceedingly careful to avoid the sin of loshon hora. In this way, he will merit the blessing, “Blessed is one who does not strike his fellow stealthily” (see Sotah 32b). Additionally,
he should avoid any form of robbery, usury, or any other act that might result in another’s monetary loss. Such zealousness will surely bring blessing to one’s endeavors. |
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