SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 18 ¨C Definition
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Thus far we have focused on statements which are derogatory in nature.? The second category of loshon hora involves statements that could potentially cause harm to a person, be it physical, emotional or financial.
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The Talmud teaches that gramma b¡¯nizakin assur, it is forbidden to cause a person damage indirectly.? Thus, any form of speech, even if not derogatory, but which may cause harm to someone, constitutes loshon hora and is forbidden.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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A Triple Tragedy
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Midrash Shochar Tov (Tehillim 52:2) states:
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It was taught in the academy of R¡¯ Yishmael: Whoever relates loshon hora commits grave sins which equal the Three [Cardinal] Sins of idolatry, immorality and murder.1 [This can be deduced as follows]: Regarding loshon hora it is written, ¡°May Hashem cut off
all equivocating lips, the tongue which speaks haughty words [gedolos]¡± (Tehillim 12:4). Regarding idolatry it is written, ¡°I implore! This people have committed a great sin [gadola]¡± (Shemos 32:31). Regarding immorality it is written, ¡°How can I perpetrate
this great evil [Hagedola]?¡± (Bereishis 39:9). And regarding murder it is written, ¡°Is my sin too great to be borne [gadol]?¡± (Bereishis 4:13). [Thus, the plural form is found only with regard to loshon hora.]
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Alternatively: When someone commits murder, he kills a single soul, but one who speaks loshon hora destroys three: the subject of his words, his listener and himself. From where do we see this? From Doeg, who spoke loshon hora concerning Achimelech (I Shmuel
chs. 21-22) and thereby destroyed Shaul, who accepted the report; Achimelech, about whom it was spoken; and himself. Shaul, who accepted it, [died because of it] as it is written: ¡°Shaul died for the faithlessness with which he acted towards Hashem¡± (I Divrei
HaYamim 10:13); Achimelech [died because of it], for about him it was said [by Shaul], ¡°Die, you shall die, Achimelech (I Shmuel 22:16); and Doeg was banished from the World [to Come], as it is written, ¡°Likewise, God will shatter you for eternity¡± (Tehillim
52:7). And what caused this? Loshon hora.
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The Midrash cannot mean that speaking loshon hora is a greater sin than any of the Three Cardinal Sins, for they carry the death penalty while speaking loshon hora
does not. The Midrash means that speaking loshon hora can lead to the transgression of many severe sins (Maharsha)
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