Category Archives: Shmiras Haloshon

Hashem said, “if you desire to escape from the punishment of gehinnom, distance yourself from lashon hara, and you shall merit both this world and the world to come.” ~ Midrash Tanchuma

It’s amazing – shocking really – to think about everything that happened on the saddest of days, Tisha b’Av. Before we entered the Holy Land, we sent twelve spies, one from every tribe. Ten spies came back and they said … Continue reading →

The Torah recognizes the terrible destruction which strife causes within Klal Yisrael (the Jewish people). Disunity disqualifies us from receiving Hashem’s blessings. Rechilus fosters strife and creates rifts among Jews which sometimes are irreparable. The laws of shmiras haloshon are … Continue reading →

If you are considering a partnership with someone in business, you are permitted to inquire about details of that person’s character and behavior.  The same applies if you are seeing a partner in marriage.  You are permitted to do so … Continue reading →

You are forbidden to say about another person that he has faulty character traits…It is very likely that the person is unaware of the seriousness of lacking the particular virtue.  The proper procedure would be to explain the gravity of … Continue reading →

If it is clearly impossible to judge someone’s action favorably, you are nonetheless forbidden to tell others about the sin if it is a first offense…Since he has sinned only once, it is possible that he will regret his misdeed … Continue reading →

You are obligated to give a mitzvah observer the benefit of the doubt whenever possible…and are forbidden to tell others that he sinned….Furthermore, you must even refrain from disliking such a person because of his misdeeds.  ~ Guard Your Tongue

There are some mitzvos which are, unfortunately, so neglected that failure to observe them is not generally condemned.  Nevertheless, it is considered loshon hora to relate that a person is remiss in fulfilling that mitzvah. ~ Guard Your Tongue

One who speaks loshon hora destroys three people: the subject of his evil words, his listener and himself. ~ Sefer Chofetz Chaim

You are forbidden to say that a person did something improper, even if you are motivated by kinaas ha’emes – that is, you are agitated about the transgression and insistent that the truth be known.  Although your words might be … Continue reading →