#17 - Slander, Libel and Something Far Worse

Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Character Traits, Ch. 7 Spreading false rumors about other people is obviously horrible, but what can be so bad about reporting the truth about what someone else did? One can only understand the gravity of death by appreciating life. Only if we grasp that a human being is meant to be learning, growing, and becoming more than who they were yesterday, can we fathom the tragedy that it is it condemn them to be the mistake that they made in one instant. The golden words of the Rambam: A person who collects gossip about a colleague violates a prohibition as [Leviticus 19:16] states: "Do not go around gossiping among your people." Even though this transgression is not punished by lashes, it is a severe sin and can cause the death of many Jews. Therefore, [the warning]: "Do not stand still over your neighbor's blood" is placed next to it in the Torah [ibid.]. See what happened [because of] Doeg, the Edomite. Who is a gossiper? One who collects information and [then] goes from person to person, saying: "This is what so and so said;" "This is what I heard about so and so." Even if the statements are true, they bring about the destruction of the world. There is a much more serious sin than [gossip], which is also included in this prohibition: lashon horah, i.e., relating deprecating facts about a colleague, even if they are true. [Lashon horah does not refer to the invention of lies;] that is referred to as defamation of character. Rather, one who speaks lashon horah is someone who sits and relates: "This is what so and so has done;" "His parents were such and such;" "This is what I have heard about him," telling uncomplimentary things. Concerning this [transgression], the verse [Psalms 12:4] states: "May God cut off all guileful lips, the tongues which speak proud things..." א2 If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com