Being Careful With The Mouth

There is an ironclad rule in the Torah: “Do not peddle gossip amongst your people (Vayikrah 19:16)”. Our Sages note that the Torah places this rule in the same verse which states: “Do not profit by the blood of your fellow”. The Rambam explains that a person who goes around telling others “this is what so-and-so said about you” falls into the category gossip-peddler, even if his words are true. Such a person destroys the social fabric of the world. The Rambam also writes that even information which is seemingly innocent should not be ‘peddled’ since the enterprise of talking about others itself is something which the Torah abhors. The Rambam calls such a person a ‘salesman’ who converts the details of other people’s lives into his ‘merchandise’ and goes around town hocking his wares.

The greater sin implied in this verse is the sin of Lashon Hara, or Evil Gossip.  Lashon Hara is any speech which recalls or transmits any form of information which puts another person in a bad light. The common misconception is that true information does not fall into the category of Lashon Hara, but this too, is prohibited. Our Sages have stated: “With three sins a man forfeits his life in this World and in the Future World. These sins are idol worship, murder, and adultery. Yet, the sin of Lashon Hara equals all of them”.  Form here we can see how serious this sin really is!

The Sages have further stated: “Anyone who speaks Lashon Hara is considered to have rejected the existence of the Omnipresent”. This is because a person demonstrates a disregard for the presence of the One Who Sees and Hears everything when he maligns another human being. In this vein, the Sages have also stated that Lashon Hara is a double-edged sword which injures the Subject, the Speaker, and also the Listener. Our Sages explain that the person who inclines his ear or even passively listens and believes pernicious gossip acquires a sin which is greater than the one who speaks! This is because the main damage of Lashon Hara occurs when the listener believes what the gossiper is saying.

Everything we have discussed so far concerns Lashon Hara communicated about a single person. Can you imagine the magnitude of damage and sin caused by one who maligns a pair, group, faction, or even nation? Hashem allows us to repent the sin of Lashon Hara by seeking forgiveness from the person maligned. But how can a gossiper ever seek the forgiveness from a large group of people? Shall he go from person to person, always asking for forgiveness? The Rambam in Hilchot Teshuva lists the sin of maligning a group of people amongst those sins which are extremely difficult to repent. What a great destruction and loss!

A person must therefore strengthen his resolve and meditate on the truth of this matter. He must protect himself by constantly being vigilant regarding this sin. The Sages have warned us that the Prosecutor on high receives the power to malign the Jewish Nation only when we malign ourselves. We must stay away from the habit of speaking negatively about any person, pair, family, group, faction or community. We have seen the great suffering of our people, and witness constantly how the Satan uses every tragedy to stir up in-fighting and Lashon Hara. May Hashem give us the strength to overcome the Satan, and may we all witness the Final Redemption. Amen v’ Amen.