July 2020

Chofetz Chaim Daily 9 Av 8:12 Asur to speak LH to a Jew. To a non-Jew is much worse because it causes a chilul Hashem. As well, the non-Jew will definitely believe it and cause the Jew great damage. Even more terrible is informing on a Jew to authorities. This is equal to apikorsus and great punishment awaits.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 10 Av 8:13 Asur for anyone to BELIEVE LH regardless of who the subject is, except for apikores* & informers etc.  8:14 Likewise, it doesn’t matter who its heard from, even parents and family members. One is responsible for the behaviors of his household. He should therefore restrain them from LH and set a positive example.

*A Tinok Shenishba, which means someone who wasn’t educated with a Torah education, or someone who didn’t have a stable youth, is considered “Amcha” and one cannot believe LH about him.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 8 Av 8:10 Asur to say LH to anyone; men, women & children. Telling your spouse every time someone wrongs or insults you will involve them in fight. Eventually s/he will lose respect for you when s/he sees you’re always being teased. 8:11 Asur to say LH to relatives, siblings & parents.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 7 Av 8:8 Some permit LH about baalei machlokes to cause those at fault to stop fighting, IF 1. you have good intentions & not hate 2. no other way to stop it 3. you’re certain this party is the guilty one. 8:9 There is a cherem against saying LH about dead people, especially Torah scholars & their teachings.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 6 Av

8:5 Mitzvah to say LH about a known apikores (one who denies anything of written or oral law)
The Poskim say that a Tinok Shenishba has a Halacha of a regular Jew and no LH should be said about him, unless it is LeToeles with all the conditions.

8:6 If its a rumor, you can suspect and stay away, but do not believe it until you see it yourself or otherwise verify it.

8:7 Same laws above 8:5 apply for a rasha. Here again the Halachos are different for a Tinok Shenishba.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 4 Av 8:1 The Issur of saying LH applies to men and women, strangers and relatives. 8:2 Asur to say LH ABOUT men or women, including your spouse and in-laws.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 5 Av 8:3 Asur to say LH about a child if it will put him in a bad light or cause him damage. 8:4 Asur to say LH about an am haaretz. Saying LH on a scholar can often be in the category of mivazeh Talmid Chacham which is a terrible sin. Someone who’s a Rav and toils in Torah is considered a Talmid Chacham.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 2 Av 7:10 If you have circumstantial evidence that LH is true, still asur to believe it except IF 1. no way to judge favorably and 2. there’s a toeles to listening. 7:11 Circumstantial evidence must be witnessed by speaker, and really pertaining to story. 7:12 Its still asur to tell others or damage the subject.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 3 Av 7:13 Beis din may rely on circumstantial evidence that THEY witnessed & beat someone to confess his crime. 7:14 Asur for Beis din to rely on the claimant for the circumstantial evidence.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 1 Av  7:7 Asur to believe LH even if the speaker is as trustworthy as two witnesses. 7:8 If the speaker witnessed firsthand, it is mutar to believe that ploni is a bad person (stay away from him). However, you can not relate it to others. 7:9 Asur to believe LH even if speaker was masiach lefi tumo – which means it was mentioned as a random side point.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 29 Taamuz  7:5 Mutar to believe LH about someone who is known to constantly transgress serious sins* 7:6 If someone degrades himself and another, you may believe it about himself but not the other. *A Tinok Shenishba, e.g. someone who didn’t receive a proper Jewish education, or did, but has unfortunately had challenging life experiences, and we have to deal with him like with any other Jew. is till considered “Amitecha” and LH cannot be said, listened or believed. For any questions one should speak to a Posek.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 28 Taamuz  7:3 Asur to believe LH even if heard from two people. They are wicked people who we do not trust to spoil a good person’s name because they are speaking LH. 7:4 Asur to believe a rumor that ploni did an aveira, may suspect until clarified. One may relate it in conversation, but not purposely spread it.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 26 Taamuz  6:11 Heter to suspect is only to protect yourself. It is absolutely forbidden to mistreat, release oneself from obligations to, or hate that person. 6:12 Tshuva from believing LH includes removing the story and any ill will from your heart.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 27 Taamuz  7:1 Asur to believe LH even if the story was said publicly. 7: 2 Asur to believe LH even if the subject was present & didn’t protest. Asur to believe LH, if speaker just SAYS he would say it in subject’s presence.