SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 32 ¨C Non Kosher Entertainment
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It is forbidden to relate a story for entertainment purposes only, if it contains derogatory or harmful information.
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To relate an amusing incident that would cause embarrassment to any of the people involved if told in their presence constitutes speaking loshon hora.? Many a humorous situation is actually quite painful to the person involved.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Peace is Precious
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Sefer Ma¡¯alos HaMiddos (24) states:
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Know, my son, that peace is an exalted quality, for it [Peace] is one of the Names of God ... Wherever
peace is found, fear of God is found; wherever peace is lacking, fear of God is lacking.
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Our Sages state: Peace is precious, for God altered the truth for the sake of peace between Avraham and Sarah. Sarah [in expressing disbelief that she would yet bear a child] said, ¡°And my master [Avraham] is old¡± (Bereishis 18:12), but Hashem [in relating
her statement to Avraham] said, ¡°And I [Sarah] am old¡± (ibid. v. 13).
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After Yaakov died, the brothers sent Yosef a message: ¡°Your father gave orders before his death,saying, ¡®Thus shall you say to Yosef: O please, kindly forgive the spiteful deed of your brothers...¡¯¡± (ibid. 50:16). We do not find any indication in the Torah
that Yaakov did, in fact, give such instructions, for he did not suspect Yosef [of bearing any ill will toward his brothers. Yet the brothers, out of fear that Yosef had not forgiven them, altered the truth for the sake of peace].
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Peace is precious, for in times of war, we must first seek peace, as it is written: ¡°When you draw near to a city to wage war against it, you shall call out to it for peace¡± (Devarim 20:10).
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Peace is precious, for it is with the blessing of peace that we conclude Bircas Kohanim (The Priestly Blessing), as it is written, ¡°... and [may Hashem] establish peace for you¡± (Bamidbar 6:26).
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Peace is precious, for it is with a request for peace that we conclude our daily prayer [i.e. the Shemoneh Esrei], as is derived from the verse: ¡°HASHEM will give might to His people, HASHEM will bless His people with peace¡± (Tehillim 29:18).
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Moreover, on the great day of consolation at the End of Days, the first good tidings will be of peace, as it is written, ¡°How beautiful ascending the mountains are the footsteps of the herald, making heard, ¡®Peace!¡¯¡± (Yeshayahu 52:7).
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