Day 3 ¨C Lack of commitment
? It is forbidden to say that an individual lacks commitment in fulfilling a particular commandment. Therefore, it is forbidden to say that a man sets aside little time for daily Torah study, or that he does not go out of his way
to help others.
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This would apply even if the speaker and listener themselves study little or are not known for their benevolence, and will openly admit to this without shame. Since the Torah commands us to make Torah study and chesed performance priorities in our lives, it
is forbidden to say that someone else lacks dedication in these areas.
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? SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Purpose of This Volume ?
There are many factors which can cause a person to speak loshon hora. The three primary factors are:
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(1) A lack of awareness of what a Jew is and is not permitted to say. It is in response to this that we have compiled Sefer Chofetz Chaim, which is a code of laws of proper speech.
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(2) Satan¡¯s powerful efforts in this area, as he seeks to indict us Above and to cause our prayers to be rejected (as stated in the holy Zohar, which will be cited in a forthcoming chapter).
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(3) Ignorance of the methods through which one can succeed in avoiding the urge to gossip. As Scripture states, ¡°For with strategies shall you wage war for yourself¡± (Mishlei 24:6).
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It is in response to the second and third factors that we have authored this work (Sefer Shmiras Haloshon), a compilation of Aggadic teachings from the Talmud, Midrash and the holy Zohar, which speak of the great reward, in this world and the next, for guarding
one¡¯s tongue, and of the retribution that can result from the terrible sin of speaking loshon hora.
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We have also labored, with the help of Hashem, to compile from the thoughts of our Sages many methods and suggestions for how to escape the snare of the sin of loshon hora. It is our hope that this will inspire and aid the reader to overcome his inclination
to speak the forbidden, so that he can develop the precious, sterling quality of shmiras haloshon.
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Because this present work contains many topics that are of vital interest, it is therefore exceedingly precious to me. Therefore, I have given it a title of its own,1 Shmiras Haloshon, based upon the verse,? ¡°One who guards his mouth and tongue, guards his
soul from tribulations¡± (Mishlei 21:23).
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I.e. Though this compilation of Aggadic teachings and insights is actually another section of Sefer Chofetz Chaim, the author gave it a title of its own.
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