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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 119 – When an Act is justified?
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Speaking rechilus is prohibited even when it is made clear that the act committed was totally justified. It is therefore forbidden to tell someone that another person spoke negatively of him for a constructive purpose (l’toeles).
Moreover, it is forbidden to tell someone that another person spoke negatively of him upon the advice of a posek (halachic authority). People tend to bear ill will towards those who speak against them even when it is obvious that the speaker was justified
in doing so.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Man of Trust
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Hashem has commanded us to study Torah at every available moment; at the very least, we are to set aside a fixed portion of time each day for its study. We are also commanded to set aside a portion of our earnings for tzedakah (charity), and fulfill other mitzvos
which ostensibly seem to deplete one’s resources or prevent him from adding to his income. The evil inclination incites the Jew to be lax in his observance of these mitzvos by way of simple arguments: “What will you be left with in the end if you give away
so much money which could be used toward lucrative investments?’’ Or, “Now is a most opportune time for a business trip; you might never have an opportunity like this one! Your studies will have to wait for another time.’’ In this way, one feels compelled
to give less charity or to sacrifice his fixed learning session for the sake of the business opportunity which “cannot be missed.’’
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To counter this, David declares: “Trust in Hashem” (Tehillim 37:3) — trust that He will surely grant you whatever has been decreed for you; “and do good” — through such trust you will find yourself ready to carry out all the good which the Torah seeks of you.
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Talmud Yerushalmi (Sotah 9:13) relates that a businessman was once studying Torah when some customers approached him, demanding that he show them his merchandise. The man replied: “I will not interrupt my fixed study period. If this profit has been decreed
for me, then inevitably it will be mine.’’ |
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Keep reading Day 120, the lesson for Shabbos
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Dedicated as a zechus for Hillel Tuvia ben Batsheva and
Elisheva Yael bas Daveda Sharon
??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 121 – Negative Opinions
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As rechilus includes any statement that might cause ill feelings between Jews, it is forbidden to inform a manufacturer or distributor that a certain individual dislikes his product. This is true even if the product is generally
unpopular. Similarly, one may not tell a speaker that a certain person or persons did not enjoy his lecture, nor may one tell a writer or artist that certain people do not appreciate his work (unless this is absolutely necessary for a constructive purpose).
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Stealing One’s Own Time
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At times, people totally ignore their obligation to study Torah, and yet become very successful in business. However, if one will carefully follow the fortunes of such individuals, he will discover that in many instances, circumstances beyond their control
cause them to lose significant amounts of their hard-earned money. This may be Heaven’s way of taking away that which rightfully belonged to someone else, as it is written, “One who accumulates wealth, but not with justice, in half his days it will forsake
him” (Yirmiyahu 17:11). Or it may be that the person accumulated some of his wealth during time that was not his own, meaning, time which should have been dedicated toward the study of Torah and other mitzvos.
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Avos D’R’ Nosson (29:2) states: “Whoever disrupts himself from studying words of Torah will have disruptions cast his way [which will interfere with his daily affairs]. For example, a lion, or leopard ... or armed bandits may come, surround his property and
exact retribution from him, as it is written, “... there is indeed a God Who judges in the land” (Tehillim 58:12).
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The above punishment is measure for measure. Because the person neglected his obligation to study Torah and instead strained to amass material wealth, therefore circumstances will force him to turn his attention away from the endeavors in which he has wrongfully
chosen to toil.
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The Sages state: “If a person sees affliction come upon him, he should examine his ways. If he examined them and they are not lacking, he should attribute [his suffering] to disruption of Torah study” (Berachos 5a).
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In conclusion: The world and its fullness belongs to the Holy One, Blessed is He. He fashioned all of creation for His honor, as it is written, “All that is called by My Name and for My honor, have I created” (Yeshayahu 43:7). Therefore, one who seeks a life
of fulfillment and tranquility should heed David’s call: “Trust in Hashem and do good.’’
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Dedicated as a zechus for Hillel Tuvia ben Batsheva and
Elisheva Yael bas Daveda Sharon
??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????
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Dedicated as a zechus for Hillel Tuvia ben Batsheva
and Elisheva Yael bas Daveda Sharon
??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 124 – Parties at Odds
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As rechilus is defined as any statement that may cause ill feelings between Jews, one might think that statements where ill feelings already exist would be excluded from this category. In fact, this is not the case. It is forbidden
to strengthen existent animosity or even to remind someone of his negative feelings towards his fellow.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Strength of His Worlds
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Our above discussion is capsulated in a single verse cited above:
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“Trust in Hashem forever, for in God, Hashem, is the strength of the worlds (Yeshayahu 26:4).”
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“Trust in Hashem forever ...’’ Even after the Temple has been destroyed and the Jewish people finds itself in exile while the wicked prosper, nevertheless, trust in Hashem and He will help you, for His power is infinite and eternal.
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All of creation continues to exist only by way of Hashem’s unceasing will that it be so, as the Sages? formulated in the morning prayer, “and in His goodness renews daily, perpetually, the work of Creation’’; and as Scripture states, “And You give them all
life” (Nechemiah 9:6). Hashem’s involvement in this world is unchanging and He continues to watch over those who place their trust in Him. Therefore, the above verse concludes “for in God, Hashem, is the strength of the worlds.” Hashem created His worlds with
the Name spelled with the letters yud heh; the upper world with the letter yud, and this world with the letter heh. His will, as represented by the letters of His Name, continues to be the “strength,” of His worlds.
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 123 – Cynicism
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It is forbidden to relate to a member of a community, family or organization that someone spoke cynically of his group; to do so is to speak rechilus. This is true even when members of that community, family, or organization regularly
joke about themselves. It is common for people to poke fun at themselves, yet be offended when others make similar comments.
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The same applies regarding a school. Students who regularly joke about their school or class are often offended when outsiders make similar comments. Therefore, mentioning to students that someone spoke negatively of their school is speaking rechilus.
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[It should be noted that joking about one’s own school generally involves loshon hora or at least avak loshon hora.]
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Children of Hashem
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Denial of God’s glory is possible only in this world. Only in his earthly existence can man, with his corporeal desires, be drawn away from His service and thus deny that which is true and sacred. In the upper world, however, all the Heavenly angels perceive
Hashem’s glory, recognize how He sustains and guides them, and declare His praise and bow before him, as it is written, “And the hosts of Heaven bow before You” (Nechemiah 9:6).
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In truth, this world is not even like a tiny seed when compared to the totality of worlds Above, where countless Heavenly contingents exist, each consisting of an infinite numbers of angels, as it is written, “A thousand thousands serving Him, and myriad myriads
standing before Him” (Daniel 7:10). Thus, the wicked’s flouting of His will in this world is of little significance when viewed within the scope of creation in its entirety.
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In this world, the Holy One, Blessed is He, takes pleasure in the Jewish people, who are so beloved to Him that they are called “Children of Hashem” (Devarim 14:1). He takes pleasure, as it were, in the voice of their prayer and study, as it is written, “Let
Me hear your voice” (Shir HaShirim 2:14). Shouldn’t we be ashamed not to trust in the One Who gives life to all the worlds and the myriads of angels? How can man fret and worry, “Whence will come my sustenance, the fulfillment of my needs?’’ Indeed, such worry
and concern is cause for greater wonder than the concern of the fool in the above parable, who worried that the rebellion of an insignificant village would deprive the king’s bird of its sustenance!
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It is incumbent upon us to strengthen ourselves spiritually, to concentrate on fulfilling God’s will — and not to worry about our material situation. As “Children of Hashem” we are like children of a king, who need not worry that they may go hungry.
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Dedicated as a zechus for Hillel Tuvia ben Batsheva and
Elisheva Yael bas Daveda Sharon
??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 125 – Ultimate Result
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Included in the prohibition against speaking rechilus is relating information which might ultimately cause ill will if it were to be passed on to a certain person or persons.
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Therefore, it is forbidden to say anything to anyone that might cause animosity between any two people. One must assume that whatever is told to even one person is likely to be repeated to others – and could ultimately be heard by just about anybody. Only if
the listener is warned not to tell anyone what he is about to hear, and can be trusted to heed this warning, would it be permitted to share such information with him (provided, of course, that the information is not of a derogatory nature; otherwise, it would
be loshon hora).
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Infinite Merit
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As mentioned above, one who seeks to acquire the quality of shmiras haloshon must strengthen his bitachon, trust in Hashem, so that he will not become upset if someone will cause him any sort of hurt or loss. With proper bitachon, one will refrain from speaking
negatively in such instances and will refrain, as well, from feuding with or shaming the guilty party. Rather, he will be confident that Hashem will replenish his losses in the way that He sees fit.
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The Talmud states: “Whoever places his trust in the Holy One, Blessed is He, will merit that He will be a refuge for him in this world and the next” (Menachos 29b). This assurance is granted even to those whose trust is not predicated on a desire to honor God’s
Name. Surely, then, one will merit this reward if he refrains from argument out of concern that he might utter that which the Torah prohibits. Moreover, one who refrains from “exacting his rightful measure” out of concern that Hashem’s Name not be desecrated,
and instead places his trust in Him, will surely merit infinite reward.
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