SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM ? Day 168 ¨C Lending an Ear????????
? There are instances where one may listen to?rechilus?although the information is not at all pertinent to him.
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When an individual is experiencing sadness or extreme anxiety and is in need of someone with whom to share his frustration, it is considered an act of kindness to lend a sympathetic ear and listen to his troubles. One must be certain, though, that the circumstances
do, in fact, demand this. Also, such expression should not become a regular occurrence for the speaker. Finally, care must be taken that the speaker not wander from the matter at hand and offer negative remarks which are not relevant.
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One may also listen to?rechilus?if his intention is to make the speaker understand that his perception of the situation, and of those of whom he speaks negatively, is mistaken. ?
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Taking Hold of the Tree ?
The Torah is called a ¡°tree of life for those who grasp it¡± (Mishlei?3:18). The way to grab
onto a tree is to take hold of one its branches; in so doing, one has attached himself to the entire tree of which this branch is a part. So it is, explains?Sefer Chareidim?(ch. 61), with Torah. The way to attach oneself to the 613?mitzvos?is
by fulfilling one particular?mitzvah?with exacting precision and total dedication. Dedication and attachment to a single commandment will cause one¡¯s soul to become united with Hashem and His Torah and will lead to the proper fulfillment of other?mitzvos?as
well. Thus do we find, ¡°Rav Nachman said: I will be rewarded [in the World to Come] for having [zealously] fulfilled [the?mitzvah] to eat three meals on Shabbos. Rav Sheishes said: I will be rewarded for having [zealously] fulfilled the?mitzvah?of?tefillin¡±
(Shabbos?118b). The Talmud goes on to cite similar statements of other Sages and offers illustrations of how meticulously each sage fulfilled the?mitzvah?of which he spoke.?Sefer Chareidim?also cites?Talmud Yerushalmi?which
states that fulfillment of a given?mitzvah?with total dedication and precision is a catalyst for earning the great reward of the World to Come.
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Thus, the above can be added to all the great benefits of?shmiras haloshon?of which we have already spoken. One who will dedicate himself to the meticulous observance of these laws in all their fine details, in all situations and under all conditions,
will thereby take hold of a branch of the Tree of Life and merit reward that no angel can fathom.
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