Lashon Ha-Ra (evil speech)

[didymus]

Christian teaching forbids lying, gossip, detraction, &c but I found this giving the Jewish perspective and it’s very interesting:

The Power of Speech

 Judaism is intensely aware of the power of speech and of the harm that  can be done through speech. The [rabbis](http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/rabbi.htm) note that the universe  itself was created through speech. Of the 43 sins enumerated in the [Al Cheit](http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/al.htm) confession recited on [Yom Kippur](http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/yomkippur.htm), 11 are sins  committed through speech. The [Talmud](http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/talmud.htm) tells that the tongue  is an instrument so dangerous that it must be kept hidden from view,  behind two protective walls (the mouth and teeth) to prevent its misuse.

Tale-Bearing

 There are two [mitzvot](http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/mitzvot.htm) in the  [Torah](http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/torah.htm) that specifically  address improper speech: Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer  among thy people (Lev. 19:16), and ye shall not wrong one another (Lev.  25:17, which according to tradition refers to wronging a person with  speech).

Tale-bearing is, essentially, any gossip. The Hebrew word for tale-bearer is “rakhil” (Reish-Kaf-Yod-Lamed), which is related to a word meaning trader or merchant. The idea is that a tale-bearer is like a merchant, but he deals in information instead of goods. In our modern “Information Age,” the idea of information as a product has become more clear than ever before, yet it is present even here in the Torah.

Wronging a Person through Speech

 Leviticus 25:17 says, "You shall not wrong one another." This has  traditionally been interpreted as wronging a person with speech. It  includes any statement that will embarrass, insult or deceive a person,  or cause a person emotional pain or distress.

Here are some commonly-used examples of behavior that is forbidden by this mitzvah:

• You may not call a person by a derogatory nickname, or by any other embarrassing name, even if he is used to it.
• You may not ask an uneducated person for an opinion on a scholarly matter (that would draw attention to his lack of knowledge or education).
• You may not ask a merchant how much he would sell something for if you have no intention of buying.
• You may not refer someone to another person for assistance when you know the other person cannot help (in other words, it’s a violation of Jewish law to give someone the run-around!).
• You may not deceive a person, even if no harm is done by the deception; for example, you may not sell non-kosher meat to a non-Jew telling him that it is kosher, even though no harm is done to the non-Jew by this deception.
• You may not sell a person damaged goods without identifying the damage, even if the price you give is fair for the goods in their damaged condition.
• You may not offer a person a gift or invite a person to dinner if you know that the person will not accept.
• You may not compliment a person if you do not mean it.

Must admit there are a couple on that list that never would have occurred to me.

 

[centurionguard]

Christian teaching forbids lying, gossip, detraction, &c but I found this giving the Jewish perspective and it’s very interesting:

Must admit there are a couple on that list that never would have occurred to me.

Seems that one could attribute a number of these Jewish laws associated with the Ten Commandments. Starting with #8 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. comes to mind.

 

[nickybr38]

Is it weird I think that list is kind of great?

The only one I would argue with is the one about the scholarly individual. Sometimes us uneducated folks like getting into discussions above our heads because it forces us to learn something new - but only if we’re dealing with people patient enough to explain things that might seem ‘simple’ to them.

 

[baltobetsy]

Is it weird I think that list is kind of great?

The only one I would argue with is the one about the scholarly individual. Sometimes us uneducated folks like getting into discussions above our heads because it forces us to learn something new - but only if we’re dealing with people patient enough to explain things that might seem ‘simple’ to them.

I like it, too. It’s a great examination of conscience.

The thing about the scholarly and the uneducated seems to me to be about not doing it purposely to make the uneducated person look stupid. The person with teaching and helping in mind won’t ask in such a way as to leave the other person sputtering. He would ask leading questions, so as to lead the other to the right answers and preserve his dignity.

Betsy

 

[nickybr38]

I like it, too. It’s a great examination of conscience.

The thing about the scholarly and the uneducated seems to me to be about not doing it purposely to make the uneducated person look stupid. The person with teaching and helping in mind won’t ask in such a way as to leave the other person sputtering. He would ask leading questions, so as to lead the other to the right answers and preserve his dignity.

Betsy

I have run into people who do the leading thing. I appreciate that so much, and it’s a very gentle way to approach people who don’t have the same education.