Lashon Hara: Difference between revisions
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Lashon Harah is any form of speech or communication that may harm someone else emotionally, financially, physically or damage their general reputation.<ref>Rambam, Hilchot De’ot 7:5. Regarding reputation damage, cf. Chofetz Chaim, Hilchot Lashon Harah 1:1.</ref> The severity of Lashon Harah is so awesome that according to the Chafetz Chaim, violating the prohibition of Loshan Harah entails transgressing at least six negative | Lashon Harah is any form of speech or communication that may harm someone else emotionally, financially, physically or damage their general reputation.<ref>Rambam, Hilchot De’ot 7:5. Regarding reputation damage, cf. Chofetz Chaim, Hilchot Lashon Harah 1:1.</ref> The severity of Lashon Harah is so awesome that according to the Chafetz Chaim, violating the prohibition of Loshan Harah entails transgressing at least six negative biblical commandments and at least two positive commandments.<ref>Chofetz Chaim, Hilchot Lashon Harah, Peticha. The gemara Yerushalmi Peah 1:1 tells us that just like studying torah is equal to all other mitzvot, so is the sin of lashon hara equal to all other sins. The gemara Sota 42a says that people who speak lashon hara are included among those who are not permitted to greet the Shechinah. </ref> | ||
==General guidelines== | ==General guidelines== | ||
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==Listening to Lashon Harah== | ==Listening to Lashon Harah== | ||
#There is a | #There is a biblical prohibition of believing any form of Lashon Harah, even if the subject of discussion is present and does not deny what's being said about him.<ref>Chofetz Chaim, Hilchot Lashon Harah 7:1-2 from gemara in Pesachim 87b and 118a. See Rambam Sefer HaMitzvot 181 and Hilchot Sanhedrin 21:7, Sefer HaChinukh 74, Shaarei [[Teshuvah]] 303:211 </ref> | ||
#The one who accepts Lashon Hara is worse than the one who says it <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 30:2 </ref>. | #The one who accepts Lashon Hara is worse than the one who says it <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 30:2 </ref>. | ||
#Even if Lashon Harah is said for constructive purposes (and within the guidelines of what is allowed to be said), the listener may not wholeheartedly believe what is being said, but may only take precautions in dealing with the person about whom they have heard negative information. In addition, even if one has resolved not to believe Lashon Harah he might hear, it is still forbidden to continue listening to such conversation.<ref>Chofetz Chaim, Hilchot Lashon Harah 6:2. Rav Moshe Shternbuch Teshuvot Vihanhagot, 1:555 says that humans are incapable of such control and therefore explains that the prohibition of accepting lashon hara is only to have one's behavior toward the subject change as a consequence of having heard it. The mental acceptance however is permitted. </ref> | #Even if Lashon Harah is said for constructive purposes (and within the guidelines of what is allowed to be said), the listener may not wholeheartedly believe what is being said, but may only take precautions in dealing with the person about whom they have heard negative information. In addition, even if one has resolved not to believe Lashon Harah he might hear, it is still forbidden to continue listening to such conversation.<ref>Chofetz Chaim, Hilchot Lashon Harah 6:2. Rav Moshe Shternbuch Teshuvot Vihanhagot, 1:555 says that humans are incapable of such control and therefore explains that the prohibition of accepting lashon hara is only to have one's behavior toward the subject change as a consequence of having heard it. The mental acceptance however is permitted. </ref> | ||
