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Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Middot - Character Traits
- Lashon Hara
"Why!" David groaned, as he gripped the spoon again. "Am I worth less than Yitzchak and Dov? It would have been perfect if the yeshiva had accepted all three of us. Now Yitzchak and Dov will be together in yeshiva, and I’ll be on my own in some second-rate place."
A knock at the door drew David out of his ruminations. He looked up to see his friend, Shimi.
"David, are you still sitting there, thinking about how that yeshiva didn’t take you?" Shimi inquired.
"Why wouldn’t I be thinking about it?" David replied angrily. "Yitzchak, Dov and I had this perfect plan, to go to this great yeshiva together. Now the whole thing is ruined!"
Shimi was taken aback at how despondent David looked. He just looked so upset. Shimi racked his brain for some idea of how to make David feel better. Then it came to him.
"David, I don’t know why you’re so upset" Shimi began. "You think that yeshiva is so great. I happen to know some information that will make you very grateful that you’re not going there. There’s a group of boys there that’s really tough, even violent sometimes, to other boys in the yeshiva. And some of the teachers are terrible!"
"I had no idea!" David cut in. "Looks like getting rejected from there was the best thing that could have happened!"
Was Shimi allowed to speak lashon hara (gossip) about the yeshiva, in order to help David feel better about being rejected?
Answer of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, shlita:
It was forbidden for Shimi to relate lashon hara about the yeshiva, in order to calm David.
It is true that it is written in Sefer Chafetz Chaim (klal 10, se’if 14, footnote) that it is possible that it is permitted for a person to tell his friend lashon hara about another, if the speaker’s intention is to dispel his own worry. Such speech is considered to be l’toelet (for a purpose), as our sages said, if a person has worry in his heart, he should discuss it with others.
Given this ruling, it would seem to be permitted for Shimi to speak lashon hara in order to calm David. However, this situation is different from the one mentioned by the Chafetz Chaim for two reasons:
Firstly, in the situation the Chafetz Chaim discusses, the speaker himself is disturbed by worry. In such a case, it would be permitted for him to discuss the matter of concern with a friend or psychologist. Otherwise, the matter is liable to damage his health. This is not the case regarding Shimi, who is not trying to alleviate his own worry, but, rather, is trying to help David feel better.
Secondly, in our case, Shimi does not have to say negative information about this yeshiva. It would be sufficient for him to tell David that there is another yeshiva which is better for David, and elaborate on the positive qualities of the second yeshiva.
(However, it is possible that it is permitted for Shimi to hint at negative information about the first yeshiva, in a way that would generally be considered avak lashon hara (lit. "the dust of lashon hara").
Summary: It was forbidden for Shimi to speak lashon hara about the yeshiva. Instead, Shimi should have said positive things about other yeshivot.
Ein Aya "Killing Me Softly With His Words"
Rav Kook on Rebuking Negative Speech - Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 235
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
