SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
? Day 26 ¨C About Children
? It is forbidden to speak loshon hora about children.? While most people understand that ¡°kids are kids¡± and the Torah does not hold children responsible for their actions, if one speaks about a child in a manner that either the
speaker or listener sees as derogatory, then the laws of shmiras haloshon have been violated.
?
It is also forbidden to say or write something about a child that potentially could prove harmful to him.
?
A teacher who is prepared to enter a negative comment on a student¡¯s record should pause to contemplate the effect that entry might have on the student¡¯s future educational and employment opportunities.
?
Likewise, teachers should exercise caution and fairness when conveying their feelings concerning a student to his teacher for the coming year.
?
? SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON ? Pure and Untainted ?
The Talmud states:
?
Reish Lakish said in the name of R¡¯ Yehudah Nesiah: ¡°The world is sustained only in the merit of the breath [of? Torah study] of school children.¡±
Said R¡¯ Pappa to Abaye: ¡°And what is with yours and mine [i.e. our Torah study]?¡±
Abaye replied: ¡°There is no comparison between breath that is tainted by sin and breath that is free of sin¡± (Shabbos 119b).
?
If the Sages were, to their minds, guilty of forbidden speech, it could only have been an inadvertent and rare occurrence. Yet they declared their words of Divine service to be tainted because of this. How much more so is this true of one who habitually speaks
the forbidden ¡ª especially loshon hora, which causes ill will and strife among Jews.
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. To sponsor a daily email visit?
