YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Middot - Character Traits
- Lashon Hara
"Where have you been? I haven’t seen you since graduation!"
Menachem looked up in surprise. It didn’t take long to identify his seatmate. After all, it had only been two years since they had been in eighth grade together.
"Shmuel, how’s it going?" Menachem inquired eagerly. "How’s your high school working out?"
"Good. I mean, it was good until this year," Shmuel responded. "I don’t know why they gave us this teacher. First of all, he thinks we’re still in kindergarten. The way he treats us, I half expect him to give us milk and cookies and have us lie down for nap time. But that’s not the worst part! He doesn’t even know how to teach. He spends more time talking about his cats than teaching us anything, and then he gives us tests and expects us to know the answers…"
The bus drove on, as Shmuel continued to bash, vilify and malign. As Menachem listened, he felt decidedly mixed feelings. On the one hand, he was glad that he didn’t have to deal with a teacher like this. On the other hand, it was too bad that he didn’t have some material of his own to share.
All too soon, the bus came to Menachem’s stop. He pushed the button, waved goodbye to Shmuel, and grabbed his bag. As Menachem walked along the sidewalk, he mulled over Shmuel’s story. Come to think of it, it would be really interesting to know the name of Shmuel’s teacher.
As soon as Menachem walked into his house, he picked up the phone, and called his old friend Yitzy. Yitzy had been in elementary school with Menachem and Shmuel, and Yitzy was the type to know important information.
"Just wondering, Yitzy," Menachem inquired. "Do you have any idea which teacher Shmuel has this year?"
"Sure. His name is Yossi Mizrachi," Yitzy responded.
"Whaaat?" stammered Shmuel. "Yossi Mizrachi is my father’s best friend! I can’t believe that Shmuel said all that lashon hara (gossip) about him! Why would he do that?!"
"Hold on, Menachem," Yitzy interjected. "Calm down. Why are you so sure that Shmuel is the one who spoke lashon hara? Maybe you did, just now, when you asked me what the teacher’s name is!"
Did Shmuel speak lashon hara? Did Menachem speak lashon hara?
Answer of Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, shlita:
Both Shmuel and Menachem spoke lashon hara. Shmuel shouldn’t have spoken about his teacher, out of concern that Menachem might find out the identity of the teacher, in the future. (It is possible that, according to the letter of the law, it would have been permitted for Shmuel to talk about his teacher, if the chance of Menachem finding out the teacher’s name was very remote. However, why was it necessary to talk about such things!?) Menachem violated the prohibition against listening to lashon hara, retroactively, when he found out the name of the teacher. It is possible that he also violated lifnei iver lo titen michshol (lit. "do not place a stumbling block before the blind," which includes the prohibition against causing another to sin). This is because, by finding out the teacher’s name, he retroactively caused Shmuel to have spoken lashon hara.
In summary:
Both Shmuel and Menachem spoke lashon hara
Ein Aya "Killing Me Softly With His Words"
Rav Kook on Rebuking Negative Speech - Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 235
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
