April 2023

Chofetz Chaim Daily 9 Iyar 6:5 Mutar to believe rechilus told to you by a trustworthy person ONLY if the info is crucial & he saw it firsthand. 6:6 Trustworthy means someone who never lies, & you trust him like 2 witnesses for all matters. 6:7 Today, we can’t determine who is trustworthy, so you can’t believe it.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 10 Iyar 6:8 Asur to believe rechilus even if it was a casual remark. See Hilchos LH Chap 7:10-14 for all laws of masiach lefi tumo. 6:9 Mutar to believe rechilus if you have circumstantial proof ONLY if

a) there’s no way to favorably interpret the evidence

b) proof is directly related to the story

c) you witnessed it yourself

d) there is a toeles

e) you can’t share the rechilus with others & can’t harm ploni.

10)see sefer for practical application.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 7 Iyar 6:1 Asur to believe rechilus even if it was said in the presence of many people. 6:2 Asur to believe rechilus even if said in front of the subject. If he doesn’t protest, it doesn’t mean he agrees to the story. Anyway, why believe someone who’s saying useless info & committing many sins, to ruin the reputation of a good person?!

Chofetz Chaim Daily 8 Iyar 6:3 If somebody lost a government job or contract, asur to suspect that a Jew informed on you. Even if you hear that ploni informed on you, asur to believe it. Even if ploni is quiet, it doesn’t mean he agrees to accusations. 6:4 Asur to believe rechilus even if many people told it to you or its a popular rumor.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 5 Iyar 5:5 The Chofetz Chaim bemoans the widespread practice of people asking others what ploni said about him & ploni’s opinion of him. It is destructive behavior and transgresses many negative commandments.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 4 Iyar 5:3 If one has significant reason to suspect that ploni plans to hurt him, he may ask people to protect himself. However, he must specify why asking. 5:4 See Hilchos LH chapter 6 for further details. When listening to info, one can’t BELIEVE anything, and ploni still has chezkas kashrus. Asur to harm ploni, harbor negative feelings, or free oneself of financial obligations to him. One must also benefit him like any other Jew.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 2 Iyar 4:1 Rechilus is asur even if not supplying any new info. Rechilus is also showing one that what ploni did to him is in fact bad. 4:2 If Reuven badmouthed Shimon in front of 2 people, and one told Shimon, the second may still not tell Shimon. It will increase negative feelings. 4:3 Teshuva for rechilus includes repentance to Hashem and appeasing aggrieved parties.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 30 Nissan 3:1 Asur to say rechilus even if 100 percent true, even not in front of ploni that youre talking about. Even if you know that you would say it in front of him. It can actually be a bigger sin to say it in front of ploni, because the listener will definitely believe it since you had the nerve to say it, and will also now hate ploni.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 29 Nissan 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 28 Nissan 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 26 Nissan 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.