In our "Random Torah" today, we take a look at a Halachic ruling from the Rambam. Within the Halachah, the Rambam brings a teaching to show how our Sages were able to offer prophecy as to a person receiving punishment (affliction) in this world and being totally cut off from the world to come. This is a huge statement to make, and if our Sages can be relied upon, we should best value the dangers of speaking evil and derogatory speech about others. Let us see what the Rambam ruled and just what our Sages said regarding the terrible sin of Lashon HaRah.
Prophecy
Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions דעות) 7:3)
אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שָׁלֹשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת נִפְרָעִין מִן הָאָדָם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְאֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְגִלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת וּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים
וְלָשׁוֹן הָרַע כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם. וְעוֹד אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים כָּל הַמְסַפֵּר בְּלָשׁוֹן הָרַע כְּאִלּוּ כּוֹפֵר בָּעִקָּר. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהילים יב ה) "אֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ לִלְשֹׁנֵנוּ נַגְבִּיר שְׂפָתֵינוּ אִתָּנוּ מִי אָדוֹן לָנוּ". וְעוֹד אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שְׁלֹשָׁה לָשׁוֹן הָרַע הוֹרֶגֶת. הָאוֹמְרוֹ. וְהַמְקַבְּלוֹ. וְזֶה שֶׁאוֹמֵר עָלָיו. וְהַמְקַבְּלוֹ יוֹתֵר מִן הָאוֹמְרוֹ
The wise men said: "There are three transgressions which call forth retribution from the man who perpetrates them in this world, and disinherit him from a share in the world to come. They are: idolatry, adultery, and bloodshed; but the evil tongue outweighs them all" (Arakin, 16b). The wise men, moreover, said: (Arakin, 16b) "He who speaks with an evil tongue is like an atheist, for it is said: 'Who have said, Our tongues will we make mighty, our lips are with us, who is Lord over us'"? (Ps. 12.5.). And, again, the wise men said: "The evil tongue kills three persons, the one who speaks it, the one of whom it is spoken, and the one who receives it". In fact, the greatest harm comes to the one who receives the evil report. (Shabbat, 56)
VITAL POINTS
Idolatry, adultery and bloodshed certainly take a person out of this world. Evil speech, however - Lashon Harah - which is in fact simply telling over the truth about another - outweighs all these terrible sins. With our words, we are able to kill others far quicker than any weapon. The damage is at least as fast and as powerful as a bullet. There is a mixture of idolatry in our speech - because when we talk badly about another, we make ourselves arrogant (as if we ourselves are already perfect... it is just the other who needs improving, a good talking to etc.) And indeed, one engaged in Lashon Hara is also taking a part in the sin of adultery by means of engaging in an illicit affair with another person (the person being spoken to) by means of relating and giving over something forbidden to someone forbidden to hear the information.
One who speaks bad about another and it is the truth - is guilty of all three transgressions and worse. One who speaks bad about another and it is not the truth, engages in an additional sin known as Motzi Shem Ra - one who gives another a bad name as well!
The speaker of Lashon Hara is an atheist. He obviously does not believe that there is a God who watches him. He does not realise that God orchestrates life in the way He chooses to for the reasons He knows. Instead, he speaks badly about God's creations wherever he goes!
Well known is the story of Rabbi Elazar ben Shimon who upon seeing an ugly looking man began to criticise his looks. The man (who was really Eliyahu HaNavi - Elijah the Prophet in disguise) told Elazar to tell that to His Maker who had created him that way.
When we speak badly about another, we take upon ourselves the very same attitude by means of making a criticism about something in the world that God has created for reasons we may not understand. If so, we must surely be atheists - not believing that there is a God, and hence we reason it is quite acceptable to criticise and speak badly of others.
But it is worse, because the one who listens to the Lashon Harah being spoken also takes a great part in the blame. When hearing the Lashon Harah, we should immediately do everything we can to run from the person speaking it (with whatever excuse we can) much as we would do everything to run from a spreading fire. There is no reason to debate issues about anything when a fire is about to spread and engulf oneself. We can talk about things later when we are away from the fire. But now that the fire is here - we must run! If indeed the fire is a small, one can throw water on it to put it out (and perhaps a useful option to the one speaking such ugly speech), but once the fire has already started, unless one has an entire fire-fighting team near one, one should run as fast as one can - taking everyone else in the room with one to protect them too!
The one who listens continues to inspire the talker to talk more, engaging in these repulsive acts of sin. As a result, everyone is hurt and nobody walks away without a scar. The one speaking will receive the outcome from his words in time. The one listening will feel the ill effects of the words having been etched upon his head - in time. The one who was spoken about will suffer throughout his life - even when he can never understand why... just because of hurtful words said by others to others who may thereafter come into contact with him - for no gain whatsoever, other than to show the arrogance of the one who said them
This is a Halachah, codified as Torah law by the Rambam. It is as important as not murdering, not committing adultery, not committing idolatry, observing Shabbat, Kashrut, Niddah, giving charity - and every Mitzvah in the Torah.
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