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Mekor Hachayim Sefer Chafetz Chayim
Hilchot Esurei Lashon Hara

Kelal Vav

The general rule to follow is that anything that is forbidden for the
speaker to say (23) is forbidden for the listener to believe (24).

Be'er Mayim Chayim on page 361

K6/10. Even though we explained that believing Lashon Hara is

forbidden by the Torah, which means the “listener” decided that
what he heard was true, still Chazal have taught (Gemara Niddah
61a) that suspecting there might be some credibility to the speaker’s
remarks is permitted. This means that the “listener” can only
suspect that the speaker’s remarks might be true (25) and take the
appropriate steps necessary to protect himself from any harm (if the
remarks later prove to be true). However, in all other regards, one
may not even entertain a doubt that the matter is true since every
person is entitled to a presumption of innocence and legitimacy
until proven otherwise. Therefore the listener is still obligated to
extend to the victim every courtesy (26) that the Torah demands of
us, just as any other Jew, since the victim’s esteem in society cannot
be diminished in any regard because of the Lashon Hara we heard.
(Please see the following Hagahah). However, the Torah does
allow us to merely suspect the veracity of the Lashon Hara but only
to the extent of protecting others and ourselves from any possible
negative ramifications should the remarks prove true. Therefore our
Authorities have defined the law, that one can suspect the remarks
are true only if the outcome of ignoring those remarks might result
in some loss or harm to him or to someone else (29) (and he should
take protective steps accordingly).

(The issue of suspecting the veracity of Lashon Hara even if only
someone else would be adversely affected requires extensive
explanation. please carefully review the Be’er Mayim Chayim here
and further on in the 2nd section of this sefer dealing with the Laws
of Esurei Rechilut, in the 9th Kelal, and there, with G‑d’s help, I
will elaborate on this subject). However, in any other context it is
forbidden even to suspect that the Lashon Hara is true or to believe it.

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