SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
? Day 109 ¨C Prefatory Remarks
? We have seen that a derogatory statement about someone is not to be believed as fact even for a constructive purpose. One is to take the necessary precautions without changing his attitude towards the subject.
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We have also learned that to cause another Jew to transgress is to violate the prohibition, ¡°Before a blind person do not place a stumbling block.¡±
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Consequently, when one relates negative information for a constructive purpose, he must be careful not to cause the listener to sin by believing the information as fact.
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The proper way to convey negative information for a constructive purpose is to preface it with a statement such as, ¡°Don¡¯t take my word for it ¨C I may be mistaken ¨C but do take the matter under serious consideration¡±.
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? SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Measure for Measure ?
Scripture relates how the prophet Eliyahu was forced to hide in a cave to escape the designs of the wicked King Achav and his queen, Izevel. When God appeared to Eliyahu in a vision, the prophet said: ¡°I have been exceedingly zealous for HASHEM, the God of
Legions, for the Children of Israel have abandoned Your covenant ...¡¯¡¯ (I Melachim?19:10). It was because
of this indictment of his people that the role of transmitting the Divine word to the generation was transferred from Eliyahu to his disciple Elisha (Yalkut Shimoni 217).
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Years later, when Elisha prophesied the end of a famine, an officer of the king declared, ¡°Behold! If HASHEM makes windows in the heavens, can such a thing be?¡¯¡¯ (II Melachim 7:2). The Midrash (cited by Sefer Charedim 47:23) understands the officer¡¯s words
as meaning: ¡°Surely it is within God¡¯s power to bring this about. However, the generation is like the generation of the Flood, regarding which it is written, ¡®And the windows of heaven were opened¡¯ (Bereishis?7:11).
How can it be that a generation so wicked should merit a miracle so great?¡¯¡¯ Because he spoke this way of the Jewish people, the officer was told by Elisha, ¡°You will yet see the miracle occur, but you will not eat from the food that will result from it.¡¯¡¯
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