Emuna Daily

“For every moment one guards one’s tongue, he earns reward that is beyond the comprehension of angels.”  Vilna Gaon citing Midrash

…The principle way of meriting the World to Come is through guarding one’s mouth, which is greater than Torah learning and mitzvos because the mouth is the Holy of Holies…” (Excerpts from a letter by the Vilna Gaon)

“There are those who acquire wealth but in truth have nothing.” (Proverbs 13:7)

The Chofetz Chaim explains, that the above verse speaks of a man who had devoted his entire life to Torah and mitzvos, building a vast reserve of wealth for the next World.  But when he reaches his destination, and his accounts are considered, he discovers that actually he has nothing at all.  Because of the loshon hora he had spoken, his merit evaporated without a trace.  After a lifetime of labor, he arrives in eternity empty-handed.

Instead of just reading the above quote, let’s try to apply it.  I would like to suggest that we pick a time, perhaps this shabbos during lunch, to make a concerted effort to not speak any loshon hora.   Even if you feel like you have to speak loshon hora, push it off till after the meal.   Slowly but surely, we will hopefully eliminate loshon hora from our speech altogether.   Good Shabbos!