February 2023

Chofetz Chaim Daily 8 Adar 3:3 Asur to degrade someone even if said as a joke. 3:4 Asur to say anonymous story, if the listener will be able to discern who its about. Asur to cause a negative impression about somebody.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 7 Adar 3:1 Asur to say LH both in front of and not in front of the subject. 3:2 Something that can be understood as positive or slightly negative can only be said if you would say it in front of the subject. This indicates the positive intention.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 5 Adar 2:11 When a community board holds a private vote e.g. to decide whether or not to rehire the chazzan, the voters must NOT relate their own OR others opinions, even if it was positive, because that will inevitably shift the blame on the other voters.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 3 Adar  2:7 If the speaker told the 3 listeners not to repeat the story, then one can’t repeat it, even if other 2 didn’t obey. 2:8 No matter what wording he used to tell listeners not to repeat, you must not. Heter of apei t’lasa doesn’t apply if 2 people said LH to 2 others.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 4 Adar  2:9 Heter of Apei Tlasa doesn’t allow one to believe the story, add to it, or show you agree to it. See sefer for further elaboration. 2:10 Heter doesn’t apply if listener will believe what you’re saying. With all its limitations, applying this heter is rare, and many authorities disagree with it anyway.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 2 Adar 2:5 Aforementioned heter doesn’t apply if one of the three people would not relate what was said (i.e. he’s a relative or he’s very scrupulous). 2:6 LH from one city is not considered public knowledge in another city.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 1 Adar 2:3 If one was in group of 3 that heard LH, SOME say that he may repeat the story, because we assume it is now public knowledge. However, even this view only allows random repeating, not with intention to spread story. 2:4 Applies only to those who heard in group of 3
* Note this heter isn’t to be used in practice as will be seen in 2:10

Chofetz Chaim Daily 30 Shvat 2:1 The sin of LH increases with amount of people listening to you speak. 2:2 Something that can be understood as neutral/slightly negative is mutar to say before three people. It will get back to the subject so the speaker obviously is not intending for the negative interpretation.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 28 Shvat 1:5 It doesnt matter who is asking for information, it is always asur to speak LH. 1:6 Asur even if it will cause a financial loss, even job loss. 1:7 Asur to speak LH even if it will create an awkward/embarrassing situation.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 26 Shvat. Beginning of LH laws 1:1 Asur to speak negatively about anyone. If true, called LH. If false, Motsi Shem Ra. Biblical source: Lo selech Rachil 1:2 This is the specific verse for LH, there are many other sins one transgresses as well.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 27 Shvat 1:3 Someone who habitually speaks LH is called a Baal LH which is a terrible sin & punishment. 1:4 One who commits a cardinal sin is punished in this world and loses portion in the world to come. A Baal LH is as bad as all three.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 25 Shvat – Arurin: 1) Arur makeh reiehu basaser. Curse for one who speaks LH. 2) Arur mashgeh iver baderech. Curse for one who places stumbling block 3)Arur asher lo yakim es divrei HaTorah Hazos. Curse to one who habitually commits any sin. 4)Arur makleh aviv v’imo.