Shmirat Haloshon

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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 21 – Ruining Opportunities
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Any information that, although not derogatory, could harm an individual’s opportunity for a job or a shidduch should it become known, may not be related.? This form of loshon hora is common when people are approached for information regarding a shidduch or a job interview.
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It is forbidden to talk of an individual’s physical weakness or lack of intelligence even if neither the speaker nor the listener views these shortcomings as negative.? Sharing such information could prove harmful.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Seeming Denial
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Our Sages state:
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R’ Yehoshua ben Levi said: The term “Torah” appears five times in the chapters which discuss the metzora [whose affliction is punishment for having spoken loshon hora].1 This teaches that one who speaks loshon hora is considered as if he had transgressed the Five Books of the Torah (Vayikra Rabbah 16:6).
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R’ Yochanan said in the name of R’ Yose ben Zimra: Whoever speaks loshon hora is considered as if he had denied the existence of God, as it is written, (Tehillim 12:5), “Those who have said, ‘With our tongues we shall prevail, our lips are with us, who is master over us?’ ” (Arachin 15b).
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Sefer Yereim explains that when someone wants to speak loshon hora, he first casts a glance in all directions to make sure that the subject of his evil words is not present. His seeming lack of concern that his words will be noted Above conveys an impression that, to his mind, Heaven is not cognizant of what he is about to say. This is why speaking loshon hora is akin to denial of belief in God.
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What more must be said concerning the severity of speaking loshon hora? There is no recourse but to engage the evil inclination in battle, so that one will not become caught in the net of this bitter sin. Those who will emerge victorious will reap the inestimable fruits of their efforts, both in this world and the next.
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1. Vayikra?13:59; 14:2;?14:32;?14:54;?14:59.
Sefer HaAkeidah (cited by Maharzu to Vayikra Rabbah) notes that the subject of loshon hora is prominently mentioned in all Five Books. The Book of Bereishis (ch. 3) relates how the Serpent, through cunning and deception, caused Adam and Eve to sin; the Book of Shemos (2:15) relates how Moshe was forced to flee Egypt because of the treachery of Dasan and Aviram; the Book of Vayikra (chs.13-14) details the laws of tzaraas which is a Divinely inflicted retribution for speaking loshon hora, and it also contains the primary prohibition against speaking loshon hora (19:16); the Book of Bamidbar relates the episodes of Miriam’s tzaraas (ch. 12), the Spies’ slander (chs. 13- 14), and Korach’s rebellion (ch. 16); and the Book of Devarim, in its opening verse, alludes to episodes in which the Jews in the Wilderness were guilty of sinful talk (see Rashi ad loc.).
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The lesson for the second day of Yom Tov

SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 22 – Disparagement and Ridicule
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Making a statement about a product that would discourage people from buying it constitutes speaking loshon hora as it could harm the livelihood of either the manufacturer or the storekeeper who sells it.? (In certain situations, however, this would be permissible, as will be discussed later.)
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Similarly, it is forbidden to make a cynical comment about a speaker that could either discourage people from attending his lectures, or weaken the impact of his message.
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As with any mitzvah, a child should be trained to avoid speaking loshon hora as soon as he reaches the age of understanding in this regard.? It is common for children to denigrate the food they are served, causing hurt to the cook.? Children should be trained to avoid making such comments.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Tools Without Flaw
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Through shmiras haloshon a Jew perfects the primary tool of his service of Hashem — his power of speech. By not using his tongue for forbidden talk, he ensures that his words of Torah study and prayer will ascend before Hashem and achieve their desired results.
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The Sages refer to speech as the Jew’s craft. When a king wants an item made for his personal use, he will choose only the finest craftsman to accomplish this task. He will seek someone who can create products of rare beauty, fit to be placed upon the royal table.
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Yet even the world’s greatest craftsman will not be able to satisfy the king if he lacks the necessary tools. If he is forced to use tools that are damaged and of poor quality, the finished product will quite likely be rejected by a commoner, and surely by a king. If, however, the master craftsman is provided with the very best tools, then the final product will be a thing of beauty and bring the king much satisfaction.
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There is no greater satisfaction to the King of kings, as it were, than when his “craftsmen” — the Children of Israel — go about their Divine service with “tools” that are free of spiritual imperfection. And it is only through shmiras haloshon that this can be achieved.
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