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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 118 – Rechilus: A Definition?????????????????
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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
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Trust in Hashem
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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
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 120 – Committees and Courts?????????????????????????????
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The prohibition against speaking rechilus is highly relevant when a committee meets to consider an individual for possible enrollment in a school, employment in a firm, or appointment to a communal or organizational position. Whether
or not the final outcome is in the person’s favor, it is forbidden to divulge the identity of anyone who expressed an opinion against the person. It is wrong for a member of the committee to tell the candidate, “I was on your side but was outvoted by my colleagues.”
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The same would apply when a beis din (rabbinical court) considers a case and comes to a decision against a party. It is forbidden for any of the judges to state that the ruling was unanimous, or which judges sided with which party, or to even say, “I voted
in your favor but was outnumbered,” for it is natural for people to harbor ill will toward those who ruled against them.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Inconceivable
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It is inconceivable that one’s livelihood should suffer because he refuses to interrupt his fixed study period to engage in business. Can it be that Hashem would subtract from the amount of sustenance that has been decreed for an individual on Rosh Hashanah
because that person faithfully adheres to his schedule of Torah study?!
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If one’s steadfastness in this area results in the loss of a business opportunity, this should not be cause for concern. The Omnipotent has infinite ways of bringing profit to one’s door. If it will not be here today, it will be here some other day. One thing
is certain: by the time the year ends, whatever income has been decreed in Heaven will be his, as our Sages have taught: “All of a person’s income is fixed [each year] from Rosh Hashanah until Rosh Hashanah” (Beitzah 16a), and all the effort and business acumen
in the world will not gain him one cent more.
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Surely one cannot hope to improve his situation by contravening the will of Hashem and disrupting his Torah study in order to earn profit, or by giving less tzedakah than a man of his means should give. Only the wicked improve their material existence in this
world by transgressing God’s will, as it is written, “And He repays His enemies in his lifetime, to make him perish” (Devarim 7:10).
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Dedications and Sponsorships??????
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for a recovery from illness or for a departed family member you can sponsor a daily email and have over 8,000 people, every day, learn and be inspired as a z’chus for your loved one. Please call 845-352-3505 #113 or email lozeri@... to sponsor or
for more information on other sponsorship opportunities.
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 121 – Negative Opinions
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As rechilus includes any statement that might cause ill feelings between Jews, it is forbidden to inform a manufacturer or distributor that a certain individual dislikes his product. This is true even if the product is generally
unpopular. Similarly, one may not tell a speaker that a certain person or persons did not enjoy his lecture, nor may one tell a writer or artist that certain people do not appreciate his work (unless this is absolutely necessary for a constructive purpose).
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Stealing One’s Own Time
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At times, people totally ignore their obligation to study Torah, and yet become very successful in business. However, if one will carefully follow the fortunes of such individuals, he will discover that in many instances, circumstances beyond their control
cause them to lose significant amounts of their hard-earned money. This may be Heaven’s way of taking away that which rightfully belonged to someone else, as it is written, “One who accumulates wealth, but not with justice, in half his days it will forsake
him” (Yirmiyahu 17:11). Or it may be that the person accumulated some of his wealth during time that was not his own, meaning, time which should have been dedicated toward the study of Torah and other mitzvos.
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Avos D’R’ Nosson (29:2) states: “Whoever disrupts himself from studying words of Torah will have disruptions cast his way [which will interfere with his daily affairs]. For example, a lion, or leopard ... or armed bandits may come, surround his property and
exact retribution from him, as it is written, “... there is indeed a God Who judges in the land” (Tehillim 58:12).
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The above punishment is measure for measure. Because the person neglected his obligation to study Torah and instead strained to amass material wealth, therefore circumstances will force him to turn his attention away from the endeavors in which he has wrongfully
chosen to toil.
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The Sages state: “If a person sees affliction come upon him, he should examine his ways. If he examined them and they are not lacking, he should attribute [his suffering] to disruption of Torah study” (Berachos 5a).
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In conclusion: The world and its fullness belongs to the Holy One, Blessed is He. He fashioned all of creation for His honor, as it is written, “All that is called by My Name and for My honor, have I created” (Yeshayahu 43:7). Therefore, one who seeks a life
of fulfillment and tranquility should heed David’s call: “Trust in Hashem and do good.’’
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 123 – Cynicism
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It is forbidden to relate to a member of a community, family or organization that someone spoke cynically of his group; to do so is to speak rechilus. This is true even when members of that community, family, or organization regularly
joke about themselves. It is common for people to poke fun at themselves, yet be offended when others make similar comments.
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The same applies regarding a school. Students who regularly joke about their school or class are often offended when outsiders make similar comments. Therefore, mentioning to students that someone spoke negatively of their school is speaking rechilus.
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[It should be noted that joking about one’s own school generally involves loshon hora or at least avak loshon hora.]
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Children of Hashem
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Denial of God’s glory is possible only in this world. Only in his earthly existence can man, with his corporeal desires, be drawn away from His service and thus deny that which is true and sacred. In the upper world, however, all the Heavenly angels perceive
Hashem’s glory, recognize how He sustains and guides them, and declare His praise and bow before him, as it is written, “And the hosts of Heaven bow before You” (Nechemiah 9:6).
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In truth, this world is not even like a tiny seed when compared to the totality of worlds Above, where countless Heavenly contingents exist, each consisting of an infinite numbers of angels, as it is written, “A thousand thousands serving Him, and myriad myriads
standing before Him” (Daniel 7:10). Thus, the wicked’s flouting of His will in this world is of little significance when viewed within the scope of creation in its entirety.
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In this world, the Holy One, Blessed is He, takes pleasure in the Jewish people, who are so beloved to Him that they are called “Children of Hashem” (Devarim 14:1). He takes pleasure, as it were, in the voice of their prayer and study, as it is written, “Let
Me hear your voice” (Shir HaShirim 2:14). Shouldn’t we be ashamed not to trust in the One Who gives life to all the worlds and the myriads of angels? How can man fret and worry, “Whence will come my sustenance, the fulfillment of my needs?’’ Indeed, such worry
and concern is cause for greater wonder than the concern of the fool in the above parable, who worried that the rebellion of an insignificant village would deprive the king’s bird of its sustenance!
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It is incumbent upon us to strengthen ourselves spiritually, to concentrate on fulfilling God’s will — and not to worry about our material situation. As “Children of Hashem” we are like children of a king, who need not worry that they may go hungry.
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L'zecher nishmas Fraidel bas Israel Ichel a"h
Dedicated by Heshy and Devorah Freifeld
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 124 – Parties at Odds
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As rechilus is defined as any statement that may cause ill feelings between Jews, one might think that statements where ill feelings already exist would be excluded from this category. In fact, this is not the case. It is forbidden
to strengthen existent animosity or even to remind someone of his negative feelings towards his fellow.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Strength of His Worlds
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Our above discussion is capsulated in a single verse cited above:
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“Trust in Hashem forever, for in God, Hashem, is the strength of the worlds (Yeshayahu 26:4).”
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“Trust in Hashem forever ...’’ Even after the Temple has been destroyed and the Jewish people finds itself in exile while the wicked prosper, nevertheless, trust in Hashem and He will help you, for His power is infinite and eternal.
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All of creation continues to exist only by way of Hashem’s unceasing will that it be so, as the Sages? formulated in the morning prayer, “and in His goodness renews daily, perpetually, the work of Creation’’; and as Scripture states, “And You give them all
life” (Nechemiah 9:6). Hashem’s involvement in this world is unchanging and He continues to watch over those who place their trust in Him. Therefore, the above verse concludes “for in God, Hashem, is the strength of the worlds.” Hashem created His worlds with
the Name spelled with the letters yud heh; the upper world with the letter yud, and this world with the letter heh. His will, as represented by the letters of His Name, continues to be the “strength,” of His worlds.
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