August 2019

Chofetz Chaim Daily 27 Av 1:10 Asur, even without details, to hint towards an old fight. 1:11 Asur to write rechilus. Asur to tell a store owner that ploni badmouthed his merchandise.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 28 Av 2:1 Asur to say rechilus to an individual, and worse in public. 2:2 AVAK rechilus is also asur. When talking about ploni to either an overly sensitive person or someone who doesn’t like him, one must not say anything that they’ll misunderstand as an offensive comment.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 29 Av 2:3 If someone badmouthed ploni in public, asur to tell others. (You can’t assume everyone knows because of chavra chavra – your friend has a friend…). For sure do not tell ploni himself. 2:4 If one considered breaking off a partnership or shidduch but did not, asur to tell the partner or shidduch – even if many people knew of the plans.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 26 Av 1:8 If you’re asked to say rechilus, and the only way out is to lie, then you should lie! (dont swear). 1:9 Asur to relate a nameless story if the listener will be able to discern who it was. Likewise, if he knew the story but not the name, asur to reveal.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 25 Av 1:6 Asur to say rechilus even if not saying will cause a large financial loss, like losing one’s job. 1:7 Likewise asur even if it will cause insult and embarrassment. The great reward for guarding one’s speech is beyond human comprehension!

Chofetz Chaim Daily 23 Av Rechilus 1:1 One who says rechilus transgresses: Lo selech rachil b’amecha, and many other positive & negative commandments. 1:2 Rechilus is: Telling someone that ploni wronged or said bad about him. Asur even if ploni won’t deny it. 1:3 Rechilus is asur even if you’re not intending to create hard feelings. Asur even if you think ploni was right.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 24 Av 1:4 Rechilus is asur even if it’s 100% true. Asur even if they already hated each other. It is a terrible sin if you create the hard feelings. 1:5 Asur even if you’re pressured to tell the info, or even if it’s your parent or Rabbi asking.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 21 Av 10:15 One must prepare what he’s going to say in advance, to ensure it meets the 7 conditions. In the heat of the moment he may say too much. 10:16 If you heard that someone said LH about you, asur to say LH about him, because 1)Maybe it’s false 2)invalid toeles.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 22 Av 10:17 If someone suspects you of wrongdoing, asur to say who did it. Say I didn’t do it (except when you must say – 7 conditions have been met). It’s befitting of a special person to accept the blame to save the perpetrator from shame. This concludes Part 1 Hilchos LH. Part 2 Hilchos Rechilus.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 20 Av 10:13 You may tell others about the loss ploni caused, IF they can help you rectify it. Likewise, you may relate how ploni insulted you etc. if will help prevent it from happening again. 10:14 However one must be careful not to violate any of the 7 conditions.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 19 Av 10:11 If you yourself was the one that was hurt, it is asur to spread because intention isn’t l’toeles. 10:12 It’s a bigger sin to spread if he didn’t even hurt you, just didn’t do you a favor that you expected.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 18 Av 10:9 If people won’t suspect the speaker of going behind the subject’s back (eg. tzadik), then it doesn’t need to be said in front of 3 people. 10:10 Relating someone’s wrongdoing bein adam laMakom is only mutar if it’s a known aveira and you’ve seen him do it many times b’mazid, unless he is a Tinok Shenishba (someone who didn’t have adequate Jewish education or stable youth)

Chofetz Chaim Daily 16 Av 10:5 Mutar to defame someone who spoke LH BUT only if the subject is aware of it. Otherwise it will lead to rechilus. 10:6 Even if the subject isn’t aware, mutar if it will create a preemptive benefit. Now people won’t believe the LH rumor that the speaker is trying to spread.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 17 Av 10:7 You don’t have to rebuke the perpetrator (third condition ibid) if you’re sure he won’t accept it. But then you must spread to at least 3 people at a time, so they won’t think you’re going behind his back. 10:8 If the perpetrator is dangerous, then you may say it to less than 3 people.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 14 Av 10:1 Mutar to spread the injustice that ploni caused your friend IF it will help to right a wrong, or defame wrongdoers. 10:2 However you must fulfill 7 conditions: 1. absolutely factual 2. certain who the real villain is 3. rebuke perpetrator first 4. must not inflate crime 5. L’toeles & no personal benefit 6. first try other non LH solution 7. outcome must not be worse than Beis Din would mete out.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 15 Av 10:3 Continued from yesterday. Only mutar if speaker himself isn’t guilty of the same crime. 10:4 Considered l’toeles if purpose is to defame sinners. Asur to tell people who don’t think the injustice was wrong, because it will bring to rechilus. In scenarios that LH is mutar, it is a mitzvah to say. If asur, asur period.