The Chofetz Chaim enumerated 31 Torah Commandments which may be violated when a person speaks or listens to loshon hora. There are 17 prohibitions and 14 positive Commandments - a total of 31 Commandments.
Positive Commandment number 2: The posuk in Vayikra 19:18 says:
"Love your neighbor as yourself"
The Torah obligates us to be equally considerate of the property and dignity of others as we are of our own (Rambam Daios 5:3). By speaking or listening to loshon hora a person shows that he does not love the subject, definitely not to the degree that he loves himself. Although a person might be aware of his own faults, he does not want anyone else to speak about them. If someone does relate his faults, he hopes that the listeners will reject what they hear. Anyone who speaks or accepts loshon hora violates this commandmant.
Positive Commandment number 3: The posuk in Vayikra 19:15 says:
"In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor"
This verse obligates us to give someone the benefit of the doubt when we see him performing an action that could be interpreted in his favor.
If an average mitzvah observer does or says something and the chances of a favorable judgment and an unfavorable judgment are equal, we must grant him a favorable judgment.
If the person in question is a G-d fearing man, we must judge him favorably even if the unfavorable side outweighs the favorable one.
If you assume that this person's action was improper and you related that matter to others, besides violating the prohibition of loshon hora, you also violate this commandment.
(Guard Your Tongue - Rabbi Zelig Pliskin)
A One Minute a Day Torah Thought !
"Regarding the troubles that plague the Jewish people throughout history for a true believer there are no questions, and for a non-believer, there are no answers!"
(Rabbi Yaakov of Radzimin ZT"L - Sefer Torah Tavlin)
50 Suggestions for Concentrating during Prayer!
(2) The Midrash Yalkot Shimoni on Mishlay says: Do not say regarding a review of Torah teachings, "We already heard it yesterday" . . . for if you say that G-d can also say to you, "Why do you say Shema twice a day, why do you pray three times a day, are you saying something new each time? If you detest the words of Torah, I, in turn, will not listen to your prayers", as it says in Mishlay 28:9. "One who removes his ears from the words of Torah, his prayer is also an abomination."
(Pathway to Prayer, Rabbi Meyer Birnbaum) |
