Opening to Hilchos Lashon Hara and Rechilus (2)

Because this disgusting trait is so harmful, the Torah gives a special warning against it with a negative commandment (Vayikra 19:16), "Do not go as a talebearer, etc.," as we will explain later.

It seems there is another reason why the Torah warns about it specially. If we look closely at lashon hara and rechilus, we will find that they include almost all the negative and positive commandments between people, and many between a person and G-d, as we will explain, G-d willing. So the Torah warns us clearly, so we do not get caught in this evil trap. I will explain this with G-d's help, and along the way it will also help a lot with other halachos. Also, the yetzer hara will be weakened when it sees how much trouble and stumbling a person causes through his speech. I will begin this with Hashem's help.

First, we must explain the general rules of these laws:

- Lashon hara and rechilus are forbidden even when what is said is true, as we will explain later.

- They are forbidden whether one says them in front of the person or not.

- There is no difference between the one who speaks and the one who accepts, as we will explain later. "The one who accepts" means someone who believes the story in his heart. Even if he does not add anything to the story, if he believes in his heart the lashon hara or rechilus he heard, this is called "shema shav" (a false report), and he breaks the negative commandment "Do not accept an empty statement."

Each of these rules has roots and branches like the other parts of the Torah. May Hashem help us know them well.

Know that when we write that a person breaks negative and positive commandments, and that three curses fall on him (as we will write and explain later), we include lashon hara and rechilus whether true or false. This is what we mean whenever we write in Be'er Mayim Chaim, "in the first four ways": through lashon hara or rechilus; in front of the person or not in front of him; both the speaker and the one who accepts; and whether it is true or false. Remember this.

First we will explain several negative commandments, then several positive commandments, and then several curses a person brings on himself through this, as well as several great sins that this causes. I divided this Opening into two parts. The main text is called Mekor Chaim, and the explanation around it is called Be'er Mayim Chaim. I wrote the reasons for these names in the introduction. In Be'er Mayim Chaim I explain in which cases each negative or positive commandment applies, and various other halachos. I will begin this with Hashem's help.