SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
? Day 40 ¨C Fighting Fire with Fire
? We have seen that one must be prepared to make sacrifices so that the laws of forbidden speech not be violated.
?
In the world of business, when one¡¯s product is maligned by competitors, the natural and predictable reaction is to respond in kind.? Such is not the way of the Torah.? There is no basis for the notion that one who has been the object of loshon hora can respond
with a counter-offensive of defamation.
?
? SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ?
Humbled and Contrite ?
The Torah teaches that the punishment of tzaraas can take on a number of forms, and each is intended as a Divine calling to the afflicted individual. In the words of Rambam (Hilchos Tumas Tzaraas 16:10):
?
The term tzaraas encompasses a number of phenomena which are totally distinct from one another. It refers to the whitening of human skin; the falling out of human hair from the head or beard; a change of color of a garment; and a change of color of the wall
of a house.1
?
These [phenomena] . . . did not fall within the laws of nature. Rather, each was a sign and wonder among the people of Israel to caution them with regard to loshon hora.
?
If a person would speak loshon hora, then the walls of his house would change color [and the house would be pronounced tamei (impure) by the Kohen]; if he repented, the walls would revert back to their original state [and would be purified]. If he persisted
in his wickedness until his house would have to be destroyed, then the hides upon which he would sit or lie would change color [and be declared tamei]; if he repented, then the hides would undergo ritual purification. If he persisted in his wickedness until
the hides would have to be burned, then the clothing he wore would change color; if he repented, then the clothing would undergo purification. If he persisted in his wickedness until they would have to be burned, then his skin color would change and he would
be declared a metzora. He would have to remain apart [from his fellow Jews] and his condition would become known to all, so that he would no longer take part in the conversations of the wicked, which are filled with frivolity and loshon hora.
?
The Torah states: ¡°And the person with tzaraas ¡ his garments shall be torn, the hair of his head shall be unshorn, and he shall cloak himself up to his lips; 1 he is to call out: ¡®Contaminated, contaminated!¡¯ ¡± (Vayikra 13:45).
?
The purpose of this proclamation was to warn people to stay away from him lest his tumah contaminate them, and to inform others of his anguish so that they would pray for him. The metzora¡¯s isolation and disgrace would humble him and inspire him to regret his
sin. He would resolve that from then on he would refrain from committing this bitter sin, and he would beg forgiveness of those of whom he had spoken disparagingly in the past.
?
1. The laws of the various forms of tzaraas are detailed in the Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora (Vayikra chs. 13-14).
?
Dedications and Sponsorships
Do you know someone who needs a refuah shleima? A shidduch? Or perhaps a meaningful yahrtzeit is approaching? As a merit
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
