Hachamim (our Sages) teach us that one who says Lashon Hara
(gossip) acts as if they are doing the three worst cardinal sins in the entire
Torah: Gilui Arayot, Shefichut Damim and
Avodah Zarah (sexual immorality, murder and idolatry). The Hafetz Haim
brings this up in his book Leshoncha Mirah (which is THE BOOK on Lashon Hara).
But how does this make sense on a logical level? Lashon Hara
is simply saying something true about a person that negates their reputation.
What does one have to do with the other three?! The answer is simple after a
couple minutes of thinking.
The person sitting next to me in the Bet HaMidrash broke it
down easily for me: When someone says Lashon Hara they are showing that they
are better than the person and can say negative things about them. Because if
one really searched their past actions, they would see that they are not any
holier than X and would not dare to say anything negative about them, even if
its true. This connects with Ga’ava,
which means pride in oneself. This extremely unhealthy pride is linked to
Avodah Zarah, as the Orchot Tzaddikim brings down from the words of two Psukim
(verses) in the Torah where one speaks about Ga’ava and the other about Avodah
Zarah (idolatry) and shows that if one acts as a Ga’avtan (one who is proud) it
is as if they are worshipping idols. One down two to go.
How does saying Lashon Hara cause one to act as if they are
doing acts of gilui arayot (sexual
immorality)? It is also simple. Orchot Tzaddikim explains that one who acts
with Ga’ava is also like one who does a sexually immoral act (see the Chapter
of Ga’ava). There is also a pasuk that is linked to Ga’ava, which is linked to
Lashon Hara because why else would I speak negatively about X?! Of course
because I think I am better than him/her!
The final comparison: Shefichut
Damim, murder is the clearest of all. When one speaks Lashon Hara it is as
if they are killing the one who is spoken about, the one who hears and the one
who is saying the Lashon Hara (him/herself). Why? Because all these stories
and/or characteristic traits that are being discussed can cause one to reach a
level of excommunication. If Moshe speaks about Benjamin regarding Benjamin’s
anger issues and lack of Emunah (faith) in Hashem, he can cause Benjamin to
lose his shidduch with a great girl from a strong family, etc. We don’t know
how much our words impact.
B’H we should begin
filtering our speech in an invisible box in our brain before sending it out our
mouths for the world to hear.
Sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or
Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one! Click the Donate Button
on the]]-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)!
Check anonymous Reaction Below:
0 comments:
Post a Comment