Chofetz Chaim – Introduction (6)

In addition, I wrote a long, full Opening to this book. In it I explain the negative and positive commandments a person usually breaks if he is not careful with the bitter prohibition of lashon hara and rechilus. Perhaps Hashem will help a person overcome the yetzer hara (evil inclination) when he sees how much damage and stumbling he causes with his speech.

Besides this, the Midrash Rabbah, parshas Naso (14:4), says: "If you labored much in their words, the Holy One will remove the evil inclination from you." So I said to myself: perhaps by studying this book, which gathers many sources from the Rishonim (early authorities) on this topic, and by thinking about it, the yetzer hara will have less power in this area.

And naturally, if a person first pulls himself a little away from this sin, with time he will leave it completely. Especially with this sin, so much depends on habit. And whoever comes to purify himself is helped from Above (Yoma 38b). In this merit, may the redeemer come to Zion soon in our days, amen.