开云体育

SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON

S. Krell All Messages By This Member #176 开云体育 SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Disciples of Aharon ? The greatness of peace can be seen from the following incident recorded in the Talmud (Ta’anis 22a): ? R’ Beroka of Bei Chozai would frequent the marketplace of Bei Lefet. The prophet Eliyahu often appeared to him. Once, R’ Beroka said to Eliyahu: “Is there anyone in this marketplace who is destined for the World to Come?” ? In the meantime, two other people entered the marketplace. Eliyahu said to R’ Beroka, “These ... are destined for the World to Come.” R’ Beroka approached them and asked, “What do you do?” They replied, “We are comedians and we go to cheer up those who are depressed.1 Additionally, whenever we see two people involved in a quarrel, we strive hard to make peace between them.” ? “Hillel said: ‘Be among the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and bringing them closer to Torah’ ” (Avos?1:12). To be among the disciples of Aharon is to secure for oneself a place in the World to Come. ? With regard to the other source of merit of the two men, one should note the importance of helping others to rid themselves of their anguish and worries. To do so is to fulfill the mitzvah, “You shall love your fellow as yourself” (Vayikra?19:18). Moreover, this brings immeasurable pleasure to Hashem, as it were. ? We can liken this to a father whose son is experiencing worry and suffering. Surely the father will experience great relief and joy if someone offers his son moral support, and he overcomes his distress. Similarly, the Jewish people are considered Hashem’s children.2 ? ? ? 1. They devoted their comic talents solely for such situations, and thus acted for the sake of Heaven. 2. Devarim 14:1; see Bava Basra 10a. ?
S. Krell All Messages By This Member #178 开云体育 ? SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? The Metzora’s Isolation ? “He who slanders his neighbor in secret — him will I cut down” (Psalms 101:5). The Talmud (Arachin 15b) interprets the latter half of the verse as a reference to the terrible affliction of tzaraas. ? The Talmudic sage Reish Lakish sees the term “Metzora” (one who is afflicted with tzaraas)? as a contraction of “one who spreads slander.”? “Whoever speaks loshon hora will have afflictions [of tzaraas] visited upon him.” (ibid) ? This indicates the extreme severity of this sin, for the Torah is unusually stringent with regard to the laws of tumah (ritual impurity) as pertaining to the metzora. In the Wilderness, three distinct boundaries existed within the Jews’ encampment, each representing a different level of sanctity. From among the various types of ritually impure, only the metzora was forbidden from entering all three camps. As the Torah states: “He shall dwell in isolation; his dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Vayikra?13:46). ? “Why was the metzora singled out to live in isolation? Because [through his evil speech] he caused a husband to separate from his wife, and friends to become distant from one another” (Arachin 16b). ? “R’ Yehoshua ben Levi said: Why was the metzora singled out to bring two pigeons for his purification? Said the Holy One, Blessed is He: ‘His sin was one of [sinful] chatter, therefore, let him bring an offering of chirping birds’ ” (ibid.). ?

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