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 6: The posuk in Devorim 10:20 says:
"To Him shall you cleave"
This commandment requires us to keep in the company of Torah scholars so that we should learn from their exampe (Rambam Dayos 6:1 & 2). If you forsake their company to join a group of people who are speaking loshon hora, you violate this commandment.
Positive Commandment number 7: The posuk in Vayikra 19:30 says:
"You shall fear my sacred place"
We are obligated to act with reverence when we enter a shule since they are considered a mikdosh m'at - a minor scale Bais HaMikdash.
Anyone who speaks loshon hora in a shule or bais medrash violates this commandment.
(Guard Your Tongue - Rabbi Zelig Pliskin)
A One Minute a Day Torah Thought !
This week's Torah portion is Va'era. The Jews in Egypt had trouble accepting news of their imminent redemption from hardship and slavery.
Today, we have become so entrenched in our way of life that we may struggle to envision Mashiach and a future in Eretz Israel. But is it even possible to believe for one second that our homes and cars, are as enticing as what awaits us after our redemption?
(Parshas Va'era - Sefer Torah Tavlin)
50 Suggestions for Concentrating During Prayer!
(4) The Gemora in Brochos 31a says "One should not get up to pray in a state of sadness, laziness, or light-headedness, and not after laughter, scoffing, or idle talk, but from the joy of doing a mitzva. The Iyun Yaakov explains that all these things cause one to have bad thoughts during prayer, and thereby keep one from concentrating properly.
(Pathway to Prayer, Rabbi Meyer Birnbaum) |