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Lashon Hara: Difference between revisions
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→General guidelines
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==General guidelines== | ==General guidelines== | ||
# It’s forbidden to speak about anything negative about a fellow Jew even if it’s true. This prohibition is called Lashon Hara. When communicating something false about another person, an even more severe sin is committed, that of Motzei Shem Ra (lit. producing a bad name for someone else). <Ref>Rambam Deot 7:2, Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:1) </ref> | # It’s forbidden to speak about anything negative about a fellow Jew even if it’s true. This prohibition is called Lashon Hara. When communicating something false about another person, an even more severe sin is committed, that of Motzei Shem Ra (lit. producing a bad name for someone else). <Ref>Rambam Deot 7:2, Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:1) </ref> | ||
# Rechilus / רכילות, comes from the Torah commandment "לא תלך רכיל בעמיך" / "don't be a talebearer in your nation" (Vayikra 19:16); the word "רכיל", literally "peddlar", refers to one who "carries stories" and 'peddles' them from one person to another, and says: "such and such ___ said", "such and such I heard about ___" <ref> The Kesef Mishnah Hil' De'ot 7:1 adds that these stories are personal--i.e. ___said this ''about you'' </ref>. Even if this is true, and there is no denegration, this speech violates a negative commandment, is a severe sin, and causes souls of Jews to be killed <ref> Rambam Hilchos De'os 7:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 30:1 </ref>. | |||
# It’s equally forbidden whether one volunteered or if one was asked for information where one will come to say Lashon Hara or Avak Lashon Hara. One should not listen to one’s father or Rabbi to say Lashon Hara or Avak Lashon Hara. (See circumstances where it is permitted in section Toelet). <Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:5) </ref> | # It’s equally forbidden whether one volunteered or if one was asked for information where one will come to say Lashon Hara or Avak Lashon Hara. One should not listen to one’s father or Rabbi to say Lashon Hara or Avak Lashon Hara. (See circumstances where it is permitted in section Toelet). <Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:5) </ref> | ||
# Even if taking upon oneself not to speak Lashon Hara will cause one to sustain financial loss such as the loss of one’s job (such as where the employer is very immoral and irreligious and considers one who is careful about this prohibition to be a fool and he’ll fire that person), nonetheless, it is forbidden to speak Lashon Hara. <Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:6) based on Rama YD 157:1 </ref> | # Even if taking upon oneself not to speak Lashon Hara will cause one to sustain financial loss such as the loss of one’s job (such as where the employer is very immoral and irreligious and considers one who is careful about this prohibition to be a fool and he’ll fire that person), nonetheless, it is forbidden to speak Lashon Hara. <Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:6) based on Rama YD 157:1 </ref> | ||
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# This prohibition includes any communication that is verbalized, written, or simply implied even in a silent manner.<Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:8) </ref> | # This prohibition includes any communication that is verbalized, written, or simply implied even in a silent manner.<Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:8) </ref> | ||
# Even if while saying Lashon Hara one also degrades oneself it’s still forbidden. <Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:9) </ref> | # Even if while saying Lashon Hara one also degrades oneself it’s still forbidden. <Ref>Chafetz Chaim (Lashon Hara 1:9) </ref> | ||
==Types of negative information== | ==Types of negative information== | ||
# Information is considered negative and damaging even if what is said is true and accurate. The discussion may be of criminal or general misconduct or of lackadaisical Jewish observance – relating either to interpersonal or general spiritual matters. One should not share, for example, that someone else does not give [[charity]] or keep kosher. | # Information is considered negative and damaging even if what is said is true and accurate. The discussion may be of criminal or general misconduct or of lackadaisical Jewish observance – relating either to interpersonal or general spiritual matters. One should not share, for example, that someone else does not give [[charity]] or keep kosher. | ||
