|
|  |
The Ways of the Righteous Project -
Gate of Slander
- Lashon Hara (slander) is speaking ill of one’s neighbour, even though speaking the truth. Speaking falsely of one’s neighbour is referred to as Motzi Shem Ra (bringing forth an evil name).
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- Lashon Hara alone sealed the decree that our ancestors would have to wander in the desert for forty years.
Gemara Arachin 15a
- Even Torah does not protect slanderers. In the case of Do’eg HaEdomi, because he spoke slander, his wisdom did not avail him and his Torah did not protect him.
Gemara Sotah 21a & Sanhedrin 106b
- The way of the righteous is not to engage in idle words, but in words of Torah, fostering peace, teaching many to do good deeds, teaching them what is good, keeping them far from evil and causing them to be zealous for the truth.
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- If one rebuked the slanderer, the latter would restrain himself from telling him more. But if one listens to him and encourages him, he thereby causes him to speak more.
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- Whoever shames another in public has no share in the World To Come.
Avot 3:11
- The Torah states (VaYikra 19:18): “And you shall love your neighbour as yourself”. Just as one is careful with his own honour, so should one be careful with his neighbour’s honour.
Avot 2:15
- To say “Do not talk about such and such. I don’t want to tell you what I know about him” or similar is called Avak Lashon Hara (the dust of slander).
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- One should not speak of the good of one’s neighbour in the presence of his foe, for the latter will retort: “How can you praise him if he does such and such?”
Gemara Arachin 16a
- One who is told a secret by his friend may not reveal it without his permission.
Gemara Yoma 4b
- The Torah states: “Do not be a talebearer among your people.”
What is talebearing? Revealing to one’s friend things that were said of him in secret.
Based on VaYikra 19:16
- A slanderer overlooks all of the good in a man and speaks of evil.
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- One who judges others favourably will be judged favourably by God.
Gemara Shabbat 127b
- The Torah states: “With righteousness shall you judge your neighbour.”
However, if most of your neighbour’s actions and words are evil, and you know he is not Godfearing, then an unfavourable judgement is to be placed upon his deeds and words.
Based on VaYikra 19:15
- The Torah states: “Do not take revenge”.
This refers to the following situation: If A says to B “Lend me your axe” and B replies “No”, and on the next day B says to A “Lend me your saw” and A responds “I will not lend it to you, just as you did not lend to me”.
VaYikra 19:18 and Rashi
- The Torah states: “… and do not bear a grudge”.
This refers to the following situation: If A says to B “Lend me your axe” and B replies “No”, and on the next day B says to A “Lend me your saw” and A responds “Here it is. I am not like you who did not lend to me”.
VaYikra 19:18 and Rashi
- There are some isolated cases in which slander is a Mitzvah! For instance, if two wicked men are conspiring to do evil, it is permitted to use slander to cause them to hate and do evil to each other so as not to do evil to good people.
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- One should refrain from flattery, levity, deceit and idle talk and build a very strong fence against them, by avoiding companions in whose company one liked to engage in these.
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- One must accustom oneself greatly to silence.
One should frequent the company of pious people, who only speak about Torah and fear of God.
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
- One should habituate one’s tongue to speak words of Torah and fear of God, to chastise people, to instruct one’s children to keep the Mitzvot, to console mourners, to comfort the poor, to speak the truth and to praise God.
Orchot Tzadikim: Shaar Lashon Hara
Each of the following gates contains roughly 20
short teachings on that topic
|
