A Lesson A Day 23 Av, 5773 / July 30, 2013 SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM Day 141 – Thorough Understanding Condition #2: Even when one has personally witnessed a situation, he must avoid hastily concluding that one party has harmed, or is about to harm, another. Often, it is impossible to fully understand the attitude and behavior of one person towards another without a thorough knowledge of their relationship until this point. What appears to be a sinister plot might actually be a plan of self defense. Exposing the “plotter” in such a case might leave the real victim vulnerable and defenseless. SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON Negativity Yet another primary cause of speaking loshon hora is negativity, as it is written “And you spoke very negatively in your tents and said ‘Because of Hashem’s hatred for us did He take us out of [the land of Egypt]’ (Devarim 1:27)”. There are people who are wont to complain and find fault at every opportunity, to criticize the ways and words of their fellow even when, in fact, he acts toward others with sincerity and has not caused them the slightest bit of harm. Such people never give others the benefit of the doubt; they assume every unintentional wrong to be deliberate, and are certain that it was done with malice. Whoever is afflicted with this terrible trait will speak loshon hora regularly, for he will view whatever others say or do as intended against himself. One who seeks to rid himself of this destructive trait should contemplate its various ill effects; through such reflection, he will ultimately succeed in viewing others in a favorable light. · A daily lesson from the Chofetz Chaim: A Lesson A Day/Mesorah Publications. · To subscribe or unsubscribe: e-mail us at [email protected] with subject subscribe/unsubscribe. · To order tapes, books, learning programs and our free catalog call us at 866-593-8399. · Please treat printed version with the respect due Torah materials.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:59:06 +0000
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