SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 151¨C Accuracy vs. Justification
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Obviously, the requirement that one be certain of the accuracy of his information applies to all situations where loshon hora or rechilus is to be spoken for a constructive purpose. There is, however, an aspect of this requirement
that does not apply in all cases.
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We have seen (Days 52-54) that the Torah requires us to judge our fellow Jew favorably and refrain from concluding that he has sinned when an alternative way of explaining his behavior can be found. As noted, even when it is clear that the person has sinned,
one must consider the possibility that this may have been the result of ignorance or unusual circumstances.
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While the Torah does insist that we give people the benefit of the doubt, this should not be done at the expense of others. Consequently, if one has witnessed one person harming or attempting to harm another, the need for accuracy does not require an attempt
at justifying the perpetrator¡¯s motives. Even if the act is out of character it must be rectified, and one may, therefore, inform the appropriate parties.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Two Failures
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I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a man devoid of understanding, and lo! It had become overgrown with thorns, briars had covered it over, and its stone fence had been destroyed. I perceived this and considered it well, I looked upon
it and took from it a lesson (Mishlei 24:32-33).
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These verses describe two individuals who took divergent paths, both ending in failure. I passed by the field of a lazy man ¡ª a man whose laziness caused him to neglect the study of Torah, or to forget what he had already learned. The owner of the vineyard
was a man devoid of understanding ¡ª a foolish man who did not take care to hold on to those mitzvos which he had accomplished through much time and effort. The first man, instead of planting seeds of spiritual attainment, allowed his field to become overgrown
with thorns, the thorns of idle chatter and fruitless endeavors. As for the second man, the sacred words of Torah study and prayer which he had uttered with fervor and devotion, which could have ascended Heavenward as a song of praise to the One Above, had
become unrecognizable ¡ª briars had covered it over ¡ª the briars of spiritual impurity wrought by evil speech.
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