August 2025

Chofetz Chaim Daily 7 Elul 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 Elul 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 Elul 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 6 Elul 5:6 If one is sure that ploni spoke about him, but what he said can be understood in 2 ways, one is obligated to judge ploni favorably. 5:7 One who believed rechilus must remove the story & negative feelings from his heart. Assume whoever told you didn’t have the facts straight, and do teshuva to Hashem.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 4 Elul 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 3 Elul 5:1 Asur to believe rechilus (i.e. harbor negative feelings toward ploni who allegedly damaged you.) 5:2 Asur to listen to rechilus. If the info being said is crucial for one’s safety, he may not believe, but may take the necessary precautions to protect himself.

Chofetz Chaim Daily 2 Elul 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 1 Elul 3:2 Reuven may not say to Shimon, I heard you spoke rechilus about me. This would be rechilus about Levi who told him. 3:3 One may not tell anyone what Reuven did to Shimon. Besides for being LH, the news may spread and Shimon will find out. Asur to tell someone that ploni badmouthed his children/relatives because he will dislike ploni. 3:4 To tell someone that Reuven badmouthed Shimon so that he will be able to admonish Reuven, see Hilchos LH 10:6.

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 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 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.