Page 73 - VOL-2

Sefer Chafetz Chayim
Hilchot Esurei Lashon Hara

Kelal Vav

Hilchot Esurei Lashon Hara

Kelal Vav (K6 – 6th chapter)

The esur of merely listening to Lashon Hara,
accepting Lashon Hara as truth and the correct
approach one should take in these matters. Also,
if one finds himself among a group of evil people
who are habitual speakers of Lashon Hara, an
instruction of what he should do to conform to the
Torah’s teachings. There are many other subjects

discussed among the 12 halachot of this Kelal.

Mekor Hachayim Be'er Mayim Chayim on page 281

K6/1. It is forbidden by the Torah to accept as truth the Lashon

Hara that one hears whether the speaker is talking about matters
concerning man and G‑d or about an interpersonal relationship.
Meaning, the listener may not believe (1) that what he is hearing
is true, because by doing so the victim would become degraded in
our esteem. This applies even if the listener does not agree with the
speaker’s remarks, and if he does express his agreement with those
remarks the listener doubles the severity of his sin by both speaking
Lashon Hara and believing it. In believing the Lashon Hara the
listener violates the Lav of (Shemot 23:1) “Do not accept a false
report.” Regarding this, Chazal have taught in the Mechilta that
this pasuk is a warning (to the listener) not to believe Lashon Hara,
besides transgressing other Laveen and Aseen that are associated
with Lashon Hara as I wrote above in the Introduction.12 (Please

12 The 31 Laveen and Aseen discussed in the Introduction.

61
volume 2