SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM ?
Day 142 ¨C Real or Fantasy
? What may appear to be a plot-in-the-making, which should be exposed before it materializes, may sometimes be nothing more than meaningless talk. If one overhears others plotting to harm someone, he may not inform the potential victim
unless there is sound basis for assuming that the plotters are serious.
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Occasionally, people deal with anger and frustration by fantasizing, plotting and threatening with no real intent of translating their words into action. In such situations, the well-meaning bystander who conveys information is guilt of speaking loshon hora,
rechilus and hotzaas shem ra (slander).
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Sin Breeds Sin ?
As mentioned above, the way to rid oneself of negativity is to ponder its ill effects:
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Such an attitude makes it impossible to fulfill the commandment ¡°You shall love your neighbor as yourself¡± (Vayikra 19:18). Usually this trait leads to sinas chinam, baseless hatred, which is a transgression of the commandment ¡°You shall not hate your brother
in your heart¡± (ibid. v. 17). Baseless hatred was the sin which brought about the destruction of the Second Temple (Yoma 32b). Moreover, the Talmud states that because of baseless hatred, strife abounds in one¡¯s home and tragedies may befall him (Shabbos 32b).
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This trait also leads to transgression of ¡°With righteousness you shall judge your fellow¡± (Vayikra 19:15), which our Sages understand as a requirement to grant one¡¯s fellow the benefit of the doubt (Sanhedrin 34b). Sefer Chareidim (66:39) writes that one who
judges his fellow critically becomes attached to one of the spiritual forces of impurity.
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Judging others hypercritically causes one to suspect the innocent of wrongdoing. Our Sages teach: ¡°One who suspects the innocent is afflicted physically¡± (Shabbos 97a). Inevitably, he will also transgress the sins of causing hurt through words, embarrassing
one¡¯s fellow, and causing strife ¡ª whose punishment is particularly severe.
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Thus, one who seeks a life that is good, both in this world and the next, should distance himself from this terrible trait.
