Rabbi's Sermons

פְּתִיחָה - Introduction

The Torah's timeless wisdom on proper speech takes on new dimensions in our interconnected digital world. Today we will explore classical sources on lashon hara and their application to modern technology.

חֵלֶק א׳: הַמָּקוֹר בַּתּוֹרָה

Part 1: The Biblical Source

ויקרא י״ט:ט״ז

לֹא־תֵלֵךְ רָכִיל בְּעַמֶּיךָ לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל־דַּם רֵעֶךָ אֲנִי ה׃

Translation: "You shall not go as a talebearer among your people; you shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor; I am the Lord."

רַשִׁ״י על ויקרא י״ט:ט״ז

 לֹא תֵלֵךְ רָכִיל - אֲנִי אוֹמֵר עַל שֵׁם שֶׁכָּל מְסַפְּרֵי לָשׁוֹן הָרַע הוֹלְכִים בְּבָתֵּי רֵעֵיהֶם לְרַגֵּל מַה יִּרְאוּ רַע אוֹ מַה יִּשְׁמְעוּ רַע לְסַפֵּר בַּשּׁוּק, נִקְרְאוּ הוֹלְכֵי רָכִיל, הוֹלְכֵי רְגִילָה

Translation: "I say this is called רָכִיל because all who speak lashon hara go about in their friends' houses to spy out what evil they can see or hear to tell in the marketplace."

חֵלֶק ב׳: מַסֶּכֶת עֲרָכִין

Part 2: Tractate Arachin

עֲרָכִין ט״ו ע״ב - ט״ז ע״א

1. The Severity of Lashon Hara

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה לָשׁוֹן הָרַע הוֹרֵג - הָאוֹמְרוֹ, וְהַמְקַבְּלוֹ, וְזֶה שֶׁאוֹמְרִים עָלָיו. וְהַמְקַבְּלוֹ יוֹתֵר מִן הָאוֹמְרוֹ.

Translation: "The Rabbis taught: Lashon hara kills three - the one who speaks it, the one who accepts it, and the one about whom it is spoken. And the one who accepts it [is guilty] more than the one who speaks it."

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן זִמְרָא: כָּל הַמְסַפֵּר לָשׁוֹן הָרַע - כְּאִלּוּ כּוֹפֵר בָּעִקָּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים י״ב:ה׳) "אֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ לִלְשֹׁנֵנוּ נַגְבִּיר שְׂפָתֵינוּ אִתָּנוּ מִי אָדוֹן לָנוּ"

Translation: "Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosi ben Zimra: Anyone who speaks lashon hara is as if he denies the fundamental principle [of faith], as it says (Psalms 12:5): 'Who have said: We will make our tongue mighty; our lips are with us; who is master over us?'"

2. The Power of Speech

וְאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: מַאי דִּכְתִיב (משלי י״ח:כ״א) "מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד לָשׁוֹן"? וְכִי יֵשׁ יָד לַלָּשׁוֹן? אֶלָּא לוֹמַר לְךָ: מָה יָּד מְמִיתָה - אַף לָשׁוֹן מְמִיתָהץ.

Translation: "And Reish Lakish said: What is meant by the verse (Proverbs 18:21) 'Death and life are in the hand of the tongue'? Does the tongue have a hand? Rather, it comes to tell you: Just as a hand can kill, so too can the tongue kill."

חֵלֶק ג׳: הִלְכוֹת לָשׁוֹן הָרַע - רַמְבַּ״ם

Part 3: Laws of Lashon Hara - Rambam

רַמְבַּ״ם, הִלְכוֹת דֵּעוֹת פֶּרֶק ז׳

הלכה א׳

הַמְרַגֵּל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֹא תֵלֵךְ רָכִיל בְּעַמֶּיךָ". וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין לוֹקִין עַל דָּבָר זֶה, עָוֹן גָּדוֹל הוּא וְגוֹרֵם לַהֲרֹג נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל...

"One who gossips about his fellow violates a negative commandment, as it states: 'You shall not go as a talebearer among your people.' And even though one does not receive lashes for this matter, it is a grave sin and causes the killing of many souls from Israel..."

הלכה ב׳

אֵיזֶהוּ רָכִיל? זֶה שֶׁטּוֹעֵן דְּבָרִים וְהוֹלֵךְ מִזֶּה לָזֶה וְאוֹמֵר: כָּךְ אָמַר פְּלוֹנִי, כָּךְ וְכָךְ שָׁמַעְתִּי עַל פְּלוֹנִי. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא אֱמֶת - הֲרֵי זֶה מַחֲרִיב אֶת הָעוֹלָם.

“Who is considered a talebearer? This is one who carries reports and goes from one person to another saying: 'So-and-so said such and such,' 'Such and such have I heard about so-and-so.' Even though it is true - this person destroys the world."

חֵלֶק ד׳: חָפֵץ חַיִּים - הִלְכוֹת לָשׁוֹן הָרַע

Part 4: Chofetz Chaim - Laws of Lashon Hara

כְּלָל א׳, סְעִיף א׳

אָסוּר לְסַפֵּר לָשׁוֹן הָרַע עַל חֲבֵרוֹ אֲפִלּוּ עַל אֱמֶת גָּמוּר, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם הַדָּבָר נוֹדַע כְּבָר לָרַבִּים. וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם אֵינוֹ מִתְכַּוֵּן לְגַנּוֹתוֹ, רַק מְסַפֵּר כְּדֶרֶךְ שִׂיחָה בְעָלְמָא אוֹ דֶּרֶךְ קַלּוּת רֹאשׁ וְשִׂחוּק.

Essential Point: Lashon hara is forbidden even when:

• It is completely true
• It is already public knowledge
• There is no intent to harm
• It is said casually or in jest

חֵלֶק ה׳: יִשּׂוּמִים לָעִידָן הַדִּיגִיטָלִי

Part 5: Applications to the Digital Age

1. רְשָׁתוֹת חֶבְרָתִיּוֹת - Social Media

הַשְׁאֵלָה: Is sharing or "liking" a post containing lashon hara considered accepting lashon hara?

תְּשׁוּבָה: Based on the principle from Arachin that "הַמְקַבְּלוֹ יוֹתֵר מִן הָאוֹמְרוֹ", sharing or promoting content containing lashon hara would certainly be forbidden. Even a "like" could be problematic as it:

• Validates the speaker
• Increases the post's visibility
• Demonstrates acceptance of the content

2. קְבוּצוֹת וַוטְסְאַפּ - WhatsApp Groups

Halachic Considerations:

א. אֲפֵי תְּלָתָא - The concept of speaking before three people (which some consider less severe) does NOT apply to digital groups because:

• Messages are permanent
• Can be forwarded infinitely
• Reach beyond the immediate audience

ב. תּוֹעֶלֶת - Even for a constructive purpose, strict conditions apply:

• Must be firsthand knowledge
• No exaggeration permitted
• Must genuinely help prevent harm
• Cannot be motivated by personal animosity

3. בִּקֹּרֶת מְקוּוֶנֶת - Online Reviews

Guidelines based on Halacha:

מֻתָּר - Permitted:

• Factual descriptions of service/product issues
• Warning others about potential financial loss
• Objective assessment without personal attacks

אָסוּר - Forbidden:

• Character assassination
• Exaggeration of negative experiences
• Reviews written in anger
• Including irrelevant personal information

פְּסָק מֵהָרַב יוֹסֵף שָׁלוֹם אֶלְיָשִׁיב זצ״ל

"כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁנִּכְתָּב בָּאִינְטֶרְנֶט צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת שֶׁזֶּה נִשְׁאָר לְעוֹלָמִים, וּמַגִּיעַ לְכָל הָעוֹלָם, וְלָכֵן חֹמֶר הָאִסּוּר גָּדוֹל יוֹתֵר"

Translation: "Everything written on the internet must be considered as remaining forever and reaching the entire world, therefore the severity of the prohibition is greater."

חֵלֶק ו׳: הַנְהָגוֹת מַעֲשִׁיּוֹת

Part 6: Practical Guidelines

Before Posting/Sending:

• הַאִם זֶה אֱמֶת? - Is it true?
• הַאִם זֶה נָחוּץ? - Is it necessary?
• הַאִם יֵשׁ תּוֹעֶלֶת? - Is there a constructive purpose?
• הַאִם אֶפְשָׁר בְּדֶרֶךְ אַחֶרֶת? - Can the goal be achieved differently?
• הַאִם הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר זֹאת פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים? - Would I say this face-to-face?